South Carolina Reily location and a nearby Burton

I previously emailed this map photo to some of the family (click the pic to enlarge). This was from a modern reproduction: Cook, James. 1773. A Map of the Province of South Carolina with all the Rivers, Creeks, Bays, Inletts, Islands..... It shows a "Rilly" homestead on the Black River of South Carolina, and I pondered whether that might be Robert Reily’s plantation. There is ample documentation that the Reily Family lived in the Black River area, and I have been trying to document a more precise location. I believe that the following materials support the premise that this was, indeed, the mapped location of our South Carolina home. Wouldn’t it be interesting to visit that spot! There would be a very good likelihood that Robert and Ann were buried there on the plantation, probably within view of the original house site. It is even possible that their graves could be found. If the markers were formed of stone, brick, or tabby, rather than wood, they might have endured the years.

“500 acres… in Craven County on the S branch of Black River and Deep Creek. Bounded NE by one Smith; SE by land laid out to Robert Riley; other sides vacant. Survey certified 29 June 1774.” (Motes, J. H., and M. P. Motes. 1996. South Carolina Memorials” Southern Historical Press, Greenville, SC. P. 342.)

Note the south branch of the Black River on the maps, and Deep Creek which flows into Pocataligo Swamp. Pocataligo Swamp lies at the fork of the Black River.

“Book F-3, p. 566
5 & 6 Dec. 1766
L & R
ROBERT RAYLEY, yeoman, of St. Marks Parish, Craven Co., to MATTHEW NEILSON, of Craven Co., for d 100 currency, 100 a. in Craven Co., bounding E on BENJAMIN JOHNSON; NW on vacant land; S on GEORGE EVANS; which tract was granted 2 Oct., 1764 by Lt. Gov. WILLIAM BULL. Witnesses: SAMUEL GIBSON, EBENEZER BAGNAL, JOHN VERTEE. Recorded 23 Jan. 1767 by FENWICKE BULL, Register.” (Langley, C. A. South Carolina Deed Abstracts. Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC. P. 330.)

Wain circulated a view of this map that he had found online; it seemed a bit more detailed. Here is a link to the online version.

A later, more detailed map was surveyed in 1821 for Mills’ Atlas. Here is a link. Tearcoat Creek [Swamp] was site of an important revolutionary skirmish. Deep creek, mentioned in the memorial above, is shown. Bear Creek is nearby, where Samuel Reily added 200 acres of land to his plantation (plat dated 18 November, 1784). A Reily plantation was not shown on this map (note that Samuel had moved to Mississippi by 1813). The Burton plantation on this map is due north of Sumterville, on the branch labeled Cowpen Swamp. Here is the link The will of Matthew Neilson, St. Marks Parish, Craven County, SC, died 12 Jan, 1771 mentions “Baker’s Pond formerly granted to Robert Rily and transferred to me [Matthew Neilson]” (Moore, C. T. 1969. Abstracts of the wills of the state of South Carolina 1760= 1784. Vo. 3. Charleston (?), SC.. However, I have been unable to locate this feature on a map.

DNA comparisons

The results finally came through on my upgraded DNA test. I had the test rerun to cover 37 genetic markers and yield comparisons which are much more sensitive. Comparing results with a known cousin, Jack Reily, I used the analytical company’s online engine to calculate some relatedness probabilities. Cousin Jack and I share a common ancestor, Samuel Reily, and I am Samuel’s 5th generation descendant. The tool from FTDNA calculated that there is a 76.99% probability that Jack and I share a common ancestor within the last 6 generations. The probability becomes 90% at 8- 9 generations and 99% at 14- 15 generations. There remains, however that 1% that we are not related at all… it is a statistical comparison, not an exact science.

Assuming that my lineage to Robert Reily is true for those 6 generations, I checked the comparison to Henry Burton. The calculator gave 26.94% probability of a common ancestor in the last 7 generations, i.e. back to Robert’s father. The probability becomes greater than 60% out at 9 generations, similar to my comparison to Cousin Jack (for which we have a paper- trail). That would be Robert’s great- grandfather or earlier. The probabilities of a common ancestor reach 90% at 13 generations. The 99% confidence is not reached until 19 generations back. Repeating the comparison for Charles Burton gave an identical result to that for Henry Burton.

Checking others, probability of a common ancestor withThomas Burton is greater than 60% at 8 generations (Robert Reily’s grandfather) and 90% at 13 generations; the result for Arthur Burton is similar. The probability of relatedness is considerably less for Robert Burton, 60% at 10 generations and 90% at 17 generations.

In order to interpret these results in terms that are more meaningful to me, I transformed the number of generations from the calculator to a timeline format and related that to real- world events. Average generational times range about 20- 35 years according to an article on Rootsweb (http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/GENEALOGY-DNA/2001-11/1005833169). I calculated and rounded- off time periods from the calculator, counting back from Robert Reily’s birth date (estimated at about 1735- 1740). A Potential link to the Burton family might be found in the Plantation of Ulster, a planned settlement, mostly Scotts, in northern Ireland following the “Flight of the Earls” in 1607. Another influx of Scots came to Ireland, fleeing a famine, in the 1690’s. The Scottish immigration to Ulster could well include members of the Burton family.

Seven generations back to Robert Reily’s grandfather would calculate to about 1670- 1700. That was a very turbulent period in Ireland, a time of civil wars, land confiscation, and the atrocities of Oliver Cromwell. Nine generations back would be Robert Reily’s great- grandfather, about the years 1630- 1680, and that would have been during a terrible time of unrest, eleven years of warfare, beginning with the rebellion of 1641, rebellion against the English Parliament and Scottish Covenanters, massacres of protestant settlers (10,000 to 15,000 protestant planters were murdered), and near- anarchy in Ireland. In such an environment, members of a Scottish family named Burton might feel compelled to change their name to a more “Irish” one, yet spiting their oppressors by adopting an English spelling like “Reily”. Also one could reasonably surmise that there would be ample numbers of orphans who could have an informal name change; rapes could beget children without a patrilineal surname.

The common Reily/ Burton ancestor could, of course, have been much earlier. Reaching the 99% confidence level, at 19 generations, one could suppose a common ancestor as early as 1100- 1400. That period includes the Norman invasion through the Gaelic resurgence, and also includes the time of the bubonic plague which reached Ireland in 1348.

Brian Boru defeated The Vikings at Clontarf in 1014. I think I read that the original Raghallaigh, progenitor of the O’Reilly line, was said to be a bastard child of Brian Boru, the high king. One could surmise that Brian may have likewise sired a “Burton” lineage. Perhaps, too, Ralghallaigh could have left male descendants named “Burton”. Or it could work the other way, with a Burton leaving "Reily" decendants. In Europe, surnames first came into use in the 12th century and it took several centuries for surnames to become essentially universal. Since that is within the time- frame calculated for relatedness in our Reily/ Burton DNA- test results, the divergence of a single lineage into Reily and Burton branches, could simply be that, at some point, one son chose one name and another son chose the other. That is not an unfamiliar occurrence, either. Slaves freed by the civil war typically had only a first name and there was no law or custom as to how a surname should be determined. The plantation owner’s name was often taken. However, just as often, it was not, and the slave chose a name that sounded good or the name of someone they admired. One encounters many former slaves with surnames matching U. S. Presidents, for example.

It is very interesting to study historical timelines and draw speculative scenarios. However, it would be more productive to acknowledge that the Reily/ Burton link could be far back, and review the more likely possibilities in later times.

I doubt that Robert Reily was the Burton link. He was obviously not an impoverished street- urchin and he knew how to manage his affairs and build a plantation. Robert was upstanding enough to serve in the militia, to receive land grants, to be involved in civil matters. Records refer to Robert as a yeoman (a small- landowner). His petitions for land did not state that he was “a poor protestant”, nor did he ask for “the bounty”. Those facts lead me to wonder whether Robert may have lived in another of the colonies before moving to South Carolina. Family Bibles say he was born in Ireland. Perhaps he immigrated with his parents to Pennsylvania or Virginia and traveled down the Great Wagon Road to seek his fortune in South Carolina when primogeniture left the family estate to an older brother. If Robert Reily was born in Ireland at a time when the Burton family was already well established in America, it would be well to study emigration of the Burton family and the time they moved from Ireland to America and possible connections dating from that period. Relating that information to the common ancestor probabilities from the DNA tests, may suggest Burton/ Reily connections in Ireland.

Tunica Methodist Church property at Wilhelm, LA

The church, originally on the old road, near the Rogillio- Wimbish Cemetery, was formed in 1854. A new church was built nearby, at the railroad town of Wilhelm in 1909. The following was copied from a typescript of the deed for the Wilhelm property:

DR. W. W. BURCKHALTER STATE OF LOUISIANA
TO PARISH OF WEST FELICIANA
TRUSTEES OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH, SOUTH

BEFORE ME, EUGENE S. MUSE, a Notary Public, duly commissioned and qualified, in and for the Parish of West Feliciana, State Of Louisiana, and in the presence of the witnesses hereinafter named and undersigned, Personally came and appeared,
William W. Burkhalter, husband of Mrs. Sallie Row, widow by first marriage of Horatio N. Jackson, resident of the Parish of West Feliciana, State of Louisiana, who declared, That for and in consideration of the natural love which he entertains for the Christian Religion, and for other good and sufficient causes him hereunto moving, he did and does by these presents give and grant and donate, absolutely and irrevocably unto the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of St. Francisville#, Charge, herein represented by R. S. Winn, B. E. Eskridge, J. W. Mc Queen, W. S. Daniel, M. J. Daniel, Wm. Town, John F. Ard, Jr., E. I. Daniel, and A. W Ard, Trustees of said Church, here present and accepting said donation, with gratitude for said Church, the following described property, to- wit:-

Lot No. Two (2) in Square No. Three (3) in the town of Wilhelm, Parish of West Feliciana, State of Louisiana, according to the figurative map of said town, of record in the Clerks and ex-officio Recorders Offive [sic.] of this said Parish and State.
The property herein donated being valued by the donor at the sum of One hundred and fifty (150.00) Dollars, and accepted by said Trustees for said M. E. Church, South.

To have and to hold the said property unto the said donee, in full property forever, free from any lien, mortgage or encumbrance whatever, with full and general warranty of title, and with full subrogation to all the rights of warranty and all other rights as held therein by said donor.
The said appearers agree to dispense with the Certificate required by Article 3364 of the Revised Civil Code of this State, and exonerate me, said Notary, from all responsibility in the premises.
All taxes on said property have been paid as evidenced by the Tax Collectors receipts.
Thus done and passed at St. Francisville, in the Parish of West Feliciana, State of Louisiana, on this 25th. Day of November 1910, in the presence of R. M. Leake and W. A. Falconer and S. L. Riggs, competent witnesses, who sign these presents with said appearers and me, said Notary,… W. W. Burkhalter R. S. Winn M. D. B. E. Eskridge…..

Tunica United Methodist Church

Sunday, September 23, 2007 the church celebrated a 100th anniversary. The following is quoted from hand-outs:

The congregation of the Tunica United Methodist Church celebrated the 100th Birthday of their Sanctuary in September 2007. The history of the church is uncertain earlier than 1895, but records dated to 1854 indicate that a church was constructed for $ 169. The church, also used as a schoolhouse, was located near the cemetery in Tunica. It was later torn down.

The current Sanctuary was originally built in 1907 in an obscure location on one of the highest hills in Tunica. Hard winters and rain made it difficult to reach. In 1950 the entire building was moved to its present location, on land deeded by Mrs. Mary Reily Wilkinson. The 100 year old building has stood on this site ever since.

Memorials for 100th Year Celebration, for the church’s Alter Fund and Sanctuary Restoration Fund:

Mr. & Mrs. Homer B. Alsup
Rosina Anderson
George & Leona Bellish
James Bradley
Carroll Chesne
Monroe Clark & Alice Singletary Clark
Kimberly Anne Cornette
Kyle Malcolm Cornette
Robert Edward Daniel
Mr. & Mrs. Carl V. DeLaney, Sr.
Mrs. Beverly Dixon & Mr. C. C. Dison & Mrs. Eugenia Smith Dixon
Timothy James Fruge
John & Jennie Hobgood & children
Frank Hoshman
Doll & Ewell Mahoney
L. B. & Mary McCranie
Joseph & Bessie Norwood & W. J. & Mable Norwood
Justin Norwood
Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Odom
Almina Winn Owens & Francis Levi Owens
Jordan Pace
O. R. Pittman, Jr.
Wesley Joseph and Annie R. Reily
Herndon Reily, Sr., Eva Daniel Reily, Herndon Reily, Jr.
A. C. Rogillio & Minnie M. Rogillio, A. E. Rogillio
William Guy Shoeemake & Frances Weaver Shoemake
Warden Smith & Lillian Smith
Hazel Spillman Walters
Jack & Esther Wells, A. D. Wells, & Mrs. Agnes Wells
Arthur Adam Wilkinson & Mary Reily Wilkinson

Edward Fontain Wilkinson & Ethel Bell Wilkinson

18th century Burton – Reily locations in South Carolina

I am still awaiting results of my upgraded DNA test. I am anxious to compare my results to Cousin Jack’s, and see what variations have occurred since our common ancestor, Samuel Reily. That may give me a better notion of how much credence to give the similarity of the Reily- line DNA to the Burton- line DNA, and how many generations could have passed since a common ancestor. I must keep in mind, too, that this is all statistical guessing and not an exact science. There are mathematical formulas, graphs, and tables available to help relate generations passed to genetic distance; I just hope I don’t have to work these lineages back to Adam and Eve.
I would like to compare the pedigrees of the contemporary Burton “cousins” who match my DNA, and study their most recent common ancestor. If those lines of descent merge with an individual in America, the possibility of direct connections to Robert Reily should be studied. He would have been born about 1730- 1750, guessing from Samuel’s birthdate. I do not know Robert Reily’s origins. Family lore holds that he came from County Cavan, Ireland, but I have not located documentation of that. I must review the Reily records I have been collecting from South Carolina; maybe I have missed some clues. If those Burton lines that match my DNA were to merge in the British Isles, then I need to look across the pond, at wars, convicts, land reforms, and such.
The Burton Family was wealthy, influential, and widespread in America by the time Robert Reily came along. Robert Burton, for example, born 1747, moved from Virginia to North Carolina in 1775. He was a planter, served as Quartermaster General in the Revolution at the rank of Colonel. He was a member of the Governor’s Council, and a North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress. He died and was buried in North Carolina in 1825 (United States Congress. 2005. Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress, 1774- 2005. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.).
I have located a number of records which demonstrate the Burton family's presence in South Carolina about the same period as Robert Reily. Again, I would like to trace directly from those individuals who match my DNA. As with most families, the Burton's names were passed down through the family and it is difficult to sort out the lines. One Thomas Burton, planter of Craven County, SC, sold slaves to his son,, Thomas, on 2 August, 1736. Thomas Burton petitioned for lot # 309 in Beaufort Town (Council Journal, Meeting of 13 May, 1743). Thomas Burton Jr. petitioned for land to settle in the Welch Tract; had 4 negroes and asked 200 acres (Council Journal, 3 April, 1750). Samuel Burton had a wife and three children and petitioned for a piece of land next to Col. Pawley’s in the Welch Tract, 14 May, 1751. Samuel Burton was also granted 250 acres 30 November, 1756 in Craven County, Welch Tract (Holcomb, B. H. 1997. Petitions for land from the South Carolina Council Journals 1748- 1752. Brent H. Holcomb, Columbia, SC). Those land records may be significant; I must give them more study.

Searching for Home

I like maps and I always wished I might visit the old home place in South Carolina. I was prowling through online maps recently and found the following stuff. Heading northwest from Sumter to Camden, on Hwy. 521, there are towns named after the old families; I wonder whether those were sites of their plantations. Rembert, Ellerbee, Cantys Lane, and Deloach were small towns on the map.

According to the SC archives index, Samuel Reily had land on Bear Creek, which is aout 10 miles west of Camden. I once ran across the will of Matthew Neilson, St. Mark's Parish, Craven Co., SC. He died 12 January, 1771. The will mentioned "Baker's Pond formerly granted Robert Rily and transferred to... [Matthew Neilson]. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate Baker's Pond online. Perhaps there are maps with greater detail, but I fear that may be just a local name.

Burton genealogy

Wow, that Burton family is difficult to follow. It was a prolific family, they moved a lot, and they kept passing down those same names. There are Roberts, Williams, Wilsons, Walthalls scattered all around and in every generation. I was very interested in that Robert Burton, born 1736 in Virginia. That one would be the same age as our Robert Reily, but there is continuing evidence of both Roberts, so that particular Robert Burton did not simply move to South Carolina and change his name to Reily. There could have been other Robert Burtons, though. The 1790 census shows a Huchins [sic.] Burton in South Carolina and several William Burtons in North and South Carolina. In the 1800 census, Hutchins is still listed in Laurens, SC, and there are a number of Roberts and Williams in South Carolina. From others’ research, the Burton family was in Kentucky in the early 19th century. I have not confirmed that with census records; the first two censuses of Kentucky were lost in Washington, when the British burned the capitol. It is reasonable that the Burton family migrated into Kentucky during that period; it would certainly conform to their penchant for moving with the frontier. Apparently, the Burton Family came early to this side of the pond. They migrated as the frontier moved and new lands were opened to settlement. The Burtons seem to have much history in Virginia, moving thence to North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana. My Reily- family ancestors were mostly in South Carolina until the exodus of Carolinians to The Old Southwest about 1810- 1820. I need to look for Burton- Reily ties during the period 1700 to the Revolution, and digging out ancestors before the census requires some creative research tactics.

Tracking the Burtons out of Virginia

Robert Burton was born 4 December, 1736 in VA, the son of Susanna Allen and Hutchins Burton. He may need closer scrutiny, being about the same age as our Robert Reily; I must check that he didn’t hike down the Great Wagon Road and change his name to Reily.
Robert Burton's brother, William Allen married Mary Walthall. They had sons William Allen Burton, b 1751 and Walthall, b 1750, all from Virginia. The Wilkinson County MS Burtons apparently descend from this line. No Georgia passports were found for the Burton family; perhaps they came to Mississippi via the rivers. That notion is supported by the birth of Elizabeth Hamilton Burton, 1805, in Kentucky. It was expedient for migrating families to move inland near a waterway and construct a flatboat. The family, their belongings, and produce for market were loaded and they traveled down the tributaries to the Mississippi River. Down the river, they would sell their goods and set up housekeeping in their new home. A biographic sketch of Capt. Walthall Burton states that he was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, March 28, 1807 and his family moved to Wilkinson County, MS in 1811(Mike Miller. BIO: BURTON, Capt. Walthall, s/o Wilson & Eleanor (Bruce) Burton, from Rootsweb.com)
Research notes in the Burton and allied families GEDCOM (6/8/2007, Rootsweb World Connect) referenced William Allen Burton's will of 1767, and deaths often precipitate migration of family members. That mush have been William Allen Burton, Sr (b. 1727). It was also mentioned that William Allen Burton witnessed a deed, 1771, in North Carolina. I suspect that may have been the 20- year- old son, moved from Virginia; that deed was dated after the will. Searching for Burtons in South Carolina turned up some other interesting records. Direct associations were not documented, but there were Burtons in Camden District, where the Reily family lived (Lucas, S. E. 1989. Some South Carolina records. Vol. 2. Southern Historical Press. Easley, SC. 672 pp.). There was a deed in Craven County, made 6 December, 1784, between Daniel Price, Sr. and Walthall Burton. A deed of 4 October, 1786 also involved “Walthall Burton, planter of Camden District….” William Allen Burton witnessed a deed on 2 January, 1786 in Camden District. Daniel Price, a principal in the 1784 deed, appears to have been brother to Sarah “Sally” Price, wife of Walthall Burton (Bird/Byrd- a Gathering of the Flock. GEDCOM 1/7/2007. Rootsweb World Connect). These findings indicate that the Burton family may have migrated south from Virginia into South Carolina. Apparently they remained there for some time before moving west to Kentucky, then south to Mississippi. Walthall Burton ultimately moved to Saint Landry Parish, LA, where he had a sizeable plantation.

The King vs Margaret Reily

Here is an interesting series of items from the South Carolina Department of Archives & History. Dated October and November 1771, there is a series of records, the king vs. Margaret Reily, accused of larceny; the king vs. Margaret Reily, indicted and arraigned for larceny; the king vs. Margaret Reily, trial for larceny; the king vs. Margaret Reily, sentenced for larceny. I have only viewed the index entries for these proceedings, and do not know the seriousness of this matter. I can imagine, however, in the political strife immediately preceding the American Revolution, it might be unfavorable to have a wife or mother named Margaret Reily. I might be tempted to move overmountain and change my name to Burton. I have not discovered who this Margaret Reily is, but closer study may be worthwhile.

Joseph Reily

Searching military records, I turned up a Joseph Reily, whom I do not know. He was with Keith‘s 5th Regiment SC militia (http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com. Source cited: Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who served during the War of 1812 in Organizations from the State of South Carolina. Microfilm ID M652, Record Group 94 from the National Archives).Perhaps this Joseph Reily is some of the family; maybe he is the one who is listed on the 1820 census in Sumter District. That one is living alone and was born about 1775- 1794. His age would fit with Samuel’s children, but he is not our Joseph Canty Reily.

Samuel Reily’s military service

Having ruled out the potential explanations of surname/ DNA mix-ups after the Burtons and Reilys arrived in the Mississippi Territory, research focus must move backward in time. As previously discussed, the idea was discarded, that Samuel’s sons John Y. and Robert W. were fathered by a Burton because their conceptions were far separated in place and time. Conversely, Samuel’s sons were probably not old enough or in the right place to sire Burton children. That begs the question of Samuel sowing his seed and fathering children in the Burton family. Samuel was born in South Carolina in 1767 and lived there until moving to Mississippi. However, he may have done some traveling or served in the military some distance from home. Reviewing some of Samuel’s life may detect his potential encounters with the Burton family. It would be helpful to know more about those Burton lineages and their descent to contemporaries who have DNA matches to the Reily family.

Samuel Reily was born in 1767, so he would not have been old enough for military service in the Revolution. However, he should have been involved in the War of 1812. His age would have made him eligible (1812- 1767= 43), and able- bodied men would have been expected to participate in the local militias. An indexed pension record for a South Carolina Samuel Reily was found, which may be our Samuel, but further documentation would be needed for verification… maybe the actual pension files or his service records. Reily, Samuel, SC-8926, srv. Capt. Memorial Forest’s Co Ky Mil. (White, V. D. 1992. Index to War of 1812 Pension Files, Vol II. The National Historical Publishing Co. Waynesboro, TN). A few additional details were available on that unit, too. Porter’s Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Militia 7th Company, Capt. Memorial Forrest, Lieutenant Noah Halbert, Ensign John Mann.

An Endicott family history included the following information (http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/woodford/endecott.t.txt). Memorial Forrest (born 1783) enlisted 10 September 1814 in Lt Col Andrew Porter’s Kentucky Volunteer Militia in the War of 1812 and served as a Captain. He received $40 per month pay. He died while on active duty at Ft. Gratiot, MI, 21 days before his enlistment was up. He probably died of disease since the sanitary conditions at military installations were appalling. The war had ended 24 December 1814, but the remote outposts were not aware of it because of the slow communication system of the time. In 1815, a company of Kentucky families from the vicinity of Cynthiana moved to Posey County, Indiana. This included widow Nancy Forrest and her family. Her husband had been Captain Memorial Forrest (b. 1783) who was killed in the War of 1812 while serving under Lt. Col. Andrew Porter at Fort Gratiot on 15 March,1815.
Kentucky connections offer some possibility of associations between Samuel Reily and the Burtons of Tennessee, but the timing is not reasonable. By 1814, Samuel was already settled in Mississippi. General Jackson assembled his forces at Natchez, some marching overland and others transported via the Mississippi River. Perhaps Samuel joined that Kentucky unit there and never travelled to Kentucky; Natchez would have been readily accessible from Samuel’s home near Centreville.
In his application for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, William B. Reily, Jr. LSSAR 0728B, listed Robert Reily as an ancestor, then Samuel Reily, Lieutenant in South Carolina Volunteers. This service of Samuel Reily is also listed on the application for James Weaks Reily, LSSAR 0717A. Both of these applications cite Stub Entries Book U- W, page 192. However, a review of this evidence (Salley, A. S. 1918. Stub entries to indents, Books U- W. The Historical Commission of South Carolina, Columbia, SC) raises some doubts. The stub entry, issued 13 September, 1785, shows Samuel Reiley received payment for duty as a lieutenant in 1781, 1782, 1783. Samuel was born in 1767; this would have placed him as an officer, a lieutenant, at ages 14- 16. That may be possible, but 14 seems very young for command. The William B. Reily application also lists Samuel as Captain 32nd Regiment of State SC militia under Lt. Col. John Moore 1810 Camden District, Clarendon County. That seems reasonable, considering Samuel’s age, the date, and the location, but supporting evidence has not yet been found… perhaps service records or unit histories may document this.This military information is interesting, but none of it can definitively tie Samuel Reily to close proximity to families of the Burton clan.

DNA test upgraded

An upgrade of my DNA test has been ordered, to the 37- marker analysis. That will provide a more robust evidence of John Y. and Robert W. being identical matches. An exact match across 37 markers would enhance the confidence in the matches and would, therefore, make it redundant and unnecessary for other members of this Reily family to follow with more DNA samples.

Backtracking the surnames and DNA from Mississippi

The family Bible states that Samuel Reily was the son of Robert and Ann Reily. Samuel Reily was in Camden District, SC in the 1790 census. He was in Sumter County in the 1800 census and also in the 1810 census (same place; reorganization of political divisions). Samuel Reily and John Vertu applied in 1784 for administration of Robert’s estate as “near of kin”.

Isaac McDonald Reily, older than his brothers John Young and Robert Wesley, was born in 1791. When Samuel Reily came to Mississippi Territory in 1812, Isaac was with him and both were required to get passports. After the massacre at Fort Mims, August 30, 1813, Isaac and several cousins joined the Mississippi militia, Hind’s Battalion of Cavalry (Mississippi Dragoons). The unit was organized at Liberty, MS in September, 1813, under Lt. Colonel Thomas Hinds. This unit was involved in the capture of Spanish Pensacola, November, 1814 and the Battle of New Orleans, December, 1814- January, 1815. Isaac married Mary Browman [Bowman], Amite Co., MS in 1819(Casey, Amite County) and, 2nd, Amy Higginbotham in 1823, and lived in East Feliciana Parish, LA.
Another aspect that suggests investigation is that Tennessee units participated in Jackson’s expedition to Natchez. However, even if there were Burtons among them, those troops would not have brought their womenfolk along. A Reily offspring among the Burtons would hav been unlikely by those means. Conversely, 1813 was not early enough to introduce Burton genes into the Reily lineage to account for the Reily brothers, Robert Wesley and John Young.

Further study is needed to detect Robert, Samuel, or Isaac being associated with the Burton family. Potential locations seem to be in Tennessee, Kentucky, or the Carolinas.

Burtons and Reilys in the Mississippi Territory

Census searches for Burton families who could have been associated with the Reilys, turned up W. P. Burton in the 1860 census in Wilkinson Co, MS. He was 49, a wealthy planter, born in MS. The children included Nat S., age 9, Walthall, 4, Williamson P., 1. Also in his household was Eleanor Burton, 82, born in MD (his mother?). According to the Greaves-Gerding GEDCOM 6/19/2007, by Paul Greaves, posted in the Ancestry.com World Family Trees, Wilson Price Burton was born 1811, the son of Wilson Burton (born 1779 and died 1825 in Wilkinson County, MS). Wilson Price Burton’s mother was given as Eleanor Bruce, born 1778 in Maryland. Other male children (W.P.’s brothers) were Walthall, born 1807, David Bruce, 1818, and John Lane, 1821. Among the list of W. P.’s siblings, was Elizabeth Hamilton Burton, born 1805 in Kentucky. Birthplaces were not included for some of these children, but that information could be helpful for tracing migration of the Wilson Burton family. The Family Group Record for Wilson Burton and Eleanor Bruce, at familysearch.org, agrees that Elizabeth Hamilton was born in Kentucky in 1805 and the other children were fromWilkinson Co. MS. Sally’s birthdate is given as 1813, Wilkinson Co. (perhaps an error, or was Sallie a different child and not a nickname for Sarah Williams?). The 1803 birth of Sarah Williams Burton, according to Greaves is more likely, if the marriage of Wilson and Eleanor 14 February, 1803 in Hardin Co. KY is true. Judging from the children's ages and places of birth, Wilson must have brought his family down the Mississippi River about 1805- 1807. A river route would have been best for the journey, and they would have travelled in a flatboat or a keelboat.

The Reily family became well established in Wilkinson County during a similar timeframe. Samuel Reily lived in Sumter District, South Carolina and was on the census records there. Samuel received passports through the Creek Indian Nation in 1810 and again in 1812. He was named on the Mississippi Territory tax list for 1813. Early Wilkinson County was plantation country of forests and fields, but it was a big, empty land, with few towns and centers of commerce. Therefore, the Burtons and Reilys must certainly have been associated in Wilkinson County, through business and social occasions.

In Wilkinson County, both the Burton and Reily families seem to have been fairly wealthy, large, and well- enough supported to make adoption of children one direction or the other seem unlikely. Another possibility for crossing the DNA and/or surname would be premarital liaison or infidelity. John Young Reily was born 1798, SC and Robert Wesley was born 1814, MS. These two children of Martha McDonald Reily were born far apart in time and place, so it is logical that they were truly fathered by Samuel Reily. Looking at paternity from the other direction, Those boys were not old enough to father the Burton children. The Burton lines seem to run parallel back to Samuel’s time or earlier and Samuel was in SC. I must also look at Samuel’s other children; I think Isaac McDonald was older than John Young and, however unlikely, male siblings would carry the same y-DNA.

Burton/ Reily y- DNA mystery

Cousin Jack Reily’s y- DNA test indicated relatedness to a family named Burton, with exact matches for the 37 markers that were examined. Those are reasonably convincing results. Matching 37 of 37 markers yields a 95% probability that individuals have a common ancestor within the previous 7 generations, and 90 % probability within 5 generations. The y- DNA markers are passed down, intact, through the male line as are surnames in our patrilineal culture. Tracing the Burton and the Reily pedigrees back through time, one would eventually locate a single male ancestor, common to the two lineages. That common ancestor could have lived before surnames came into use, but surnames were practically universal in Britain by the 15thcentury. Over such a long time mutations in the DNA would likely cause divergence of the y- DNA signatures, and the matches between Burton and Reily y- DNA would not be so close.

My own line traces back to Robert Wesley Reily, son of Samuel Reily and Cousin Jack traces to John Young Reily, also son of Samuel Reily. As we share the same surname, with the same spelling, and our research has documented evidence for these lineages, I interpret this as confirming our pedigrees back to Samuel Reily, 5 generations, in my case. Samuel was apparently the son of Robert Reily, and in 1784 filed for administration of Robert’s estate, as nearest of kin. I have been unable to document Robert’s immigration to America or his marriage to Ann. Robert applied for and received a land grant in 1764- 65. Also, Robert Reily applied for a land grant in 1750, in the Welch Tract, where he had already begun clearing. That was located in the Pee Dee watershed, I believe. I am uncertain whether this was our Robert; our Robert’s later grants and home were on the Black River, in St. Mark’s Parish.

The Burtons who match DNA with us seem to be from Tennessee and West Virginia, with ancestral lineages that go far back, through early Virginia and to England. The DNA matches are from multiple Burton lines just as we are comparing two parallel Reily lineages. Timeline constraints make it unlikely that the surnames Burton and Reily could diverge from a single family after Samuel’s death in 1822, as both families were already well established and were branching out by that time.

If the DNA matches truly indicate a common ancestry, there were several possible scenarios. Samuel Reily or Robert or their ancestor could have been a Burton who changed his name, or was adopted into the Reily clan. It may or may not be significant that “Reily” is an English spelling of the name, although tradition holds that Robert was from County Cavan, Ireland. The Burton family was, apparently, of English extraction.

The alternative name change could have happened, as well: a Reily, related to Robert, could have become a Burton for any number of reasons. Another possibility is that Samuel or Robert sired a son who was adopted into the Burton family. Research to trace back the Burton lines from the DNA matches may be able to rule out these possibilities on the basis of time or proximity. However, this could not rule out involvement of Robert or his ancestors. Also, there were several other Reily families in South Carolina contemporary with Robert, and there were many Reily families in Pennsylvania at the time. We have not established that they were related to Robert but that certainly seems possible with the same name and same timeframe. Any of them could have had a child adopted by the Burtons.
The next research need seems to be a study of the Burton family in America and their interaction with the Reily family. That may not go back in time far enough, but it is a good starting point. In particular, tracing back from those DNA matches to a common Burton ancestor would be helpful. If those specific Burton lines converged before Samuel Reily was of reproductive age, he could be eliminated as ancestor of Burtons. Samuel would still need investigation as possible child of a Burton.

West Feliciana Parish Map, McCausland

This map was hand- drawn by Mae Mc Causland on fabric, and is framed and mounted in the Genealogy department of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, at the Bluebonnet Regional Branch. Immediately below this post are images of the four quadrants of this map. Click on a quadrant's image for closer, more detailed views.

West Feliciana Map, NW Quadrant

West Feliciana Parish Map, NE Quadrant

West Feliciana Parish Map, SW Quadrant

West Feliciana Parish Map, SE Quadrant

Anthony Doherty land purchase, Tunica, LA, 1809

Transcription 5/7/2007 from microfilm of Spanish West Florida records, at Bluebonnet Regional Library. This filmed typescript was a translation done, I think, as a WPA project. The images are difficult to read.

Richard King, of Natchez, sells a tract of land in the Tunica section of Feliciana to Anthony Dougherty.

[original written in Spanish]

January 26, 1809

Robert Percy

Land sale

To

Anthony Dougherty

No. 8

Be it known to all who may [p. 260] see this act that I, Robert Percy, attorney for Richard King, as appears by the power which accompanies this, depose that I sell, really and with effect, to Anthony Dougherty, a tract of land of five hundred arpents, situated in New Feliciana between the branches of Bayou Bingaman about four miles from the mouth of Bayou Tunica, bounded on the north by land belonging to the said Dougherty, on the south by land of John Eldergill, on the east by land of Machiel Dewitt and William Brown, and on the west by unappropriated land, as appears by the figurative plan, certification and formal title which I deliver to the purchaser, which five hundred arpents of land were given and bequeathed to my said constituent by John Eldergill, as appears by his will, executed in the territory of Mississippi, on November 2, 1807, and I sell it to the aforesaid Anthony Doherty, free of encumbrance or mortgage, for the price and sum of two thousand pesos, which I acknowledge, of my own free [p. 261] will, that he has paid to my constituent, and for which I execute a formal receipt; in virtue of which, I re___ for my constituent’s right of ownership, possession, use, dominion, and seigniory which he had and has in the said tract of land, which right I cede and transfer to the purchaser, or to whoever may represent him, in order that, as his own property, he may possess, sell, exchange, or dispose of it at his will, in virtue of this act of sale which I execute in his favor in token of a real transfer, by which his having acquired possession has to be seen without the necessity of other proof, from which I release him, and I obligate myself to the eviction, security, and guarantee of this sale, in due legal form, with my property, present and future. I hereby insert the guaranteeing clause, renouncing the laws in my favor with the general one which may prohibit it.

And I, the said Anthony Dougherty, being present at the [p. 262] execution of this act of sale, accept it in my favor, receiving as bought the said tract of land for the price, and on the conditions, for which it is sold to me. In testimony whereof, this act is executed at Baton Rouge on January 26, 1809

I, Don Carlos Dehault Delassus, Colonel of the Royal Armies, provisionally charged with the civil and military command of this post and its district, certify that I know the grantors, who signed it with the witnesses, Antonio Crussat and Martin Visoso.

CARLOS DEHAULT DELASSUS RT. PERCY

ANTONIO CRUZAT Mark A

ANTO. DOUGHERTY