Elizabeth E. Burns was born in December, probably c1846, which matches her birth year in her early census records. By 1900, she was claiming a birth year of 1844, which matched the age at death in 1925.
She was the daughter of Matthias Williams and an unknown mother. Her father married Rebecca Davison in 1825, but the family hasn’t been found in the 1840 or 1850 censuses, so Rebecca’s estimated birth year is unknown, other than born 1800-1810, like Matthias, born in 1803.
Elizabeth is sometimes found in records as Eliza, but more often as Elizabeth. Because of that, some have assumed that her name was Elizabeth Eliza because her middle initial is E. However, I have never seen a record calling her by both names so her middle name is unproven.
Elizabeth Williams married Henry Clay Burns on 5 March 1865 in Roane County, Tennessee, just as the Civil War was ending. Interestingly, Henry enlisted in the 51st Infantry, Co. D on 1 March 1865, four days before he married. Given that the war was winding down and ended just one month later, it doesn’t appear that Henry saw much action at that time.
He had previously enlisted on 9 August 1861 and served in Co. I, 1 Regiment, East Tennessee Infantry and mustered in at Barboursville, Kentucky on 20 August 1861.
Henry and Elizabeth spent their lives in Roane County and both are buried there, although Henry’s stone is military-issue and no date of death has been inscribed on it. He was living in 1900, but Elizabeth was a widow by the 1910 census.
Elizabeth lived a long life, passing away on 4 November 1925, Rockwood, Roane, Tennessee.
Henry and Elizabeth were the parents of ten children, eight of whom were living in 1900.
Children (All events in Roane County, unless otherwise stated):
- Robert, born 1867; died 1880-1900
- Sarah Elizabeth, born 28 May 1870; died 1 May 1946; married (1) John Alexander Hamilton, 1 December 1887, but divorced as she is single in 1900 (2) James M. Patton, between 1910-1920
- Tennessee A., born 20 November 1872; died 23 October 1953, Bannock County, Idaho; married Dudley Andrews, 16 November 1893
- James Houston, born 13 February 1875; died 28 November 1935; unmarried
- Hamilton Henry, born April 1877; died 29 January 1926; married Emma Farmer, 15 July 1908
- John Samuel, born 16 April 1880; died 9 November 1952; married Annie Eliza Smith, 21 June 1902
- William Frank, born May 1882; died 7 October 1935; married Nellie Farmer, 31 October 1904
- Margaret M., born 19 December 1884; died 11 November 1970; married Frank Driskill, 26 August 1912
- Child, born c1886-1890; died young
- Ida Ann, born 25 September 1891; died 20 July 1921; married Jack Farmer, 2 February 1908
There are many descendants of Henry and Elizabeth and this generation, with the exception of Tennie who removed to Idaho, stayed close to home right in Roane County.