Ancestor Sketch – Burkett Vincent

Howell-Vincent/Vinson
By Don Taylor

When I first discovered the name of my wife’s 3^rd great-grandfather on her Vincent line, I thought I had found the most unusual first name ever, the document I found indicated “Barkhead.” Now, I know it was Burkett, but for a while, I was intrigued thinking of what the origins of the name “Barkhead” were.

Howell Family 2019 – Ancestor #36

List of Grandparents

• Grandfather: James Dallas Howell (1879-1964)
• 1^st Great-grandmother: Susan R. Vinson Howell (1848-1910)
• 2^nd Great-grandfather:  John Vincent (1817-bef. 1870)
• 3^rd Great-grandfather: Burkett Vincent
• 4^th Great-grandfather: (Possibly Philip Vinson[i])

Burkett Vincent (c. 1778 – 1847)

Birth

It is not clear when Burkett Vincent was born. The 1810 Census indicates he was between 26 and 45 years old suggesting a birth between 1765 and 1784. The 1820 Census shows he was still between 26 and 45 years old suggesting a birth between 1775 and 1795, thus narrowing his likely birth year to between 1775 and 1784. His ages during the 1830 and 1840 Censuses indicate he was born between 1770 and 1780, narrowing his likely birth year further to having been born between 1775 and 1780. I choose to use c. 1778 as a date in the middle of the range.

Halifax was a hotbed of revolution during 1775. Moore’s Creek Bridge, in Halifax, was the site of the first battle for independence in North Carolina. The county also gives its name to a resolution that was a precursor to the Declaration of Independence on April 12, 1776, now called “The Halifax Resolves.” It was the first formal call for American sovereignty.[ii]

Childhood

I believe that Philip Vincent was Burkett’s father. If true, it is likely that he had at least three brothers and three sisters. One of his brothers was named Jarrett and was close to the same age as Burkett. A lot more research is needed to understand The Burkett’s family of Halifax, North Carolina.

During the 1790 Census the Philip Vincent family of Halifax, North Carolina consisted of eight individuals. Philip, the only male over 16 in the household, three males under 16, and four females appear to have made up the family. Burkett should have been between 10 and 15 in 1790 and fits nicely as one of the three males under 16 years of age in the household.

During the 1800 Census the Philip Vinson[iii] Family of Halifax, North Carolina, consisted of 10 individuals. Along with Philip, who was over 45, there were four males. Two were 16 to 26 years of age. Burkett should have been between 20 and 25 in 1800 and fits nicely as one of the three males in that age group.

Marriage

It appears that Burkett married sometime between 1800 and 1810, most likely after 1806. The name of his wife is still unknown.

Adult

The 1810 Census shows the Burket[iv] Vincent family of Halifax, North Carolina consisting of Burkett, an apparent wife, who was the same age as Burkett, and one daughter under ten years of age.

Map of Halifax County, North Carolina.

The 1820 Census shows the “Perkit” Vincent family of Halifax, North Carolina consisting of Burkett, and an unknown woman over 45.  If Burkett and his wife were the same age group in 1810, I would expect them to be in the same age in 1820. Because his apparent wife of 1810 appears to have been replaced by a different woman over 45 years of age in the 1820 Census, I suspect that this individual is either a second wife, older sister, or a mother. Living with Burkett are five children – two boys under 10, who I presume to be John and James, and three girls. One is possibly Elisha, and two are still unknown.

The 1830 Census is just a mess.  The census indicates that Burkett’s four boys are missing and four older children are in the household. Likewise, the three daughters of Burkett and Elizabeth appear to be missing, but three older children are enumerated in the household.  For a while I thought I had the wrong family, the surname change between Vinson and Vincent occurred several times for this family line, and maybe this wasn’t one of those times. However, a look at the neighbors during the 1830 Census found several of the same people are still neighbors in the 1840 Census, so I’m reasonably sure it is the right family unit. It is just that the enumerator got his marks off. The number of children and the respective ages of the children are correct.

The 1840 Census finds the Burket Vinson of Halifax County, North Carolina consisting of:

• Free White Persons – Males – 60 thru 69: 1 – Presumed to be Burket Vinson (Senior).
• Free White Persons – Males – 20 thru 29: 1 – Presumed to be John Vincent, Age 23. (b. 1817).
• Free White Persons – Males – 15 thru 19: 1 – Probably Burkett (Junior?), age 16.
• Free White Persons – Females – 50 thru 59: 1 Presumed to be Elizabeth (wife of Burkett)
• Free White Persons – Females – 15 thru 19: 1 Presumed to be Nancy, age 15 (b. 1825).

Death & Burial

I am yet to find any definitive death information regarding Burkett. Other researchers indicate he died about 1847. His death in 1847 is consistent with the 1850 Census that suggests that his wife Elizabeth and daughter Nancy are living in the same location (next door to John Vincent – Elizabeth’s son) without Burkett.

Events by Location

Halifax County, NC – All events in Burkett Vincent’s/Vinson’s life take place in Halifax County, North Carolina.

Further Actions / Follow-up

• Determine or verify the BMD information on all of Burkett’s children who are believed to be John, James, Elisha, Susan, Nancy, Burkett, and William Hiram.

Sources

• 1790 Census (NARA), Family Search, 1790 – Philip Vincent – Edgecombe, Halifax, North Carolina. “United States Census, 1790,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHK1-WJ4 : accessed 27 April 2019), Philip Vincent, Edgecombe, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 461, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
• 1800 Census, 1800 – Philip Vinson – Halifax, Halifax County, North Carolina. “United States Census, 1800,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR7-XNF : accessed 27 April 2019), Philip Vinson, Halifax, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 348, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 30; FHL microfilm 337,906.
• 1810 Census, NARA, 1810 Census – Burket Vincent – Halifax, North Carolina. “United States Census, 1810,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLM-2NW : accessed 22 September 2018), Burpet Vincent, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 121, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 38; FHL microfilm 337,911.
• 1820 Census, 1820 Census – Burkit Vincent – Halifax, North Carolina. “United States Census, 1820,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGS-FNW : accessed 18 September 2018), Perkit Vincent, Halifax, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 168, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 85; FHL microfilm 162,801.
• 1830 Census, 1830 Census – Burkett Vincent – North Carolina, Halifax – Page 321. “United States Census, 1830,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH59-67P : 22 August 2017), Berkett Vincent, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing 321, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 121; FHL microfilm 18,087.
• 1840 Census, 1840 – Burket Vinson – Halifax, North Carolina. “United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTJ-T71 : 24 August 2015), Burket Vinson, Halifax, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 2, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 362; FHL microfilm 18,094.
• 1850 Census (NARA), 1850 Census – Elizabeth Vincent – Halifax, North Carolina. See: 1850 Census – Elizabeth Vincent – Halifax, North Carolina.pdf. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BC-QTB.
• RootsWeb’s WorldConnect Project, Copeland, Harris, Lawrence, Neville, Pittman, Turner, Wheeler. Entries: 176239 — Updated: 2017-08-05 04:27:43 UTC (Sat) — Owner: Jesse Jr. Lawrence — Home Page: Ancestors and Descendants of Jesse Macon Lawrence Jr. — 1 Burkett Vincent b: Abt 1795 d: Abt 1847.

————–  Disclaimer  ————–

ENDNOTES

[i] See “Burkett Vincent in the 1800 Census.” http://dontaylorgenealogy.com/2019/04/burkett-vincent-in-the-1800-census.html/

[ii] Internet: Library of Congress – Today in History – April 12 – “North Carolina Advocates Independence” https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/april-12/

[iii] Throughout the various records Vincent and Vinson appear to be interchangeable.

[iv] Burket, Berket, and Birkett seem to be different spellings for Burkett.  I typically use the name used in a document rather than my “preferred name” in my writing.