Benjamin Burgin (1741 - 1823)

Born 30 Nov 1741 in Maryland, United Colonies

Ancestors

Husband of Leah (Mann) Burgin — married 18 Nov 1772 in Rowan County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1823 at age 81 in Old Fort, McDowell, North Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Burgin [send private message]

Biography

Ben was born in 1741.^[1] He was the son of John Burgin and Martha Davis. He died in 1823.

Ben married Leah Mann on November 18, 1772 in Rowan County, North Carolina.^[2][3] See research notes for transcript of marriage bond.

Ben was enumerated in the 1790 U.S. Census in Burke County, North Carolina.^[4]

1790 United States Federal Census - Ben Burgin Household

(2) Free White Males 16 and over

(6) Free White Males Under 16

(1) Free White Female

In 1800 Ben was enumerated in Burke County, North Carolina.^[5]

1800 United States Federal Census - Benjamin Burgin Household

(1) Free White Male Under 10

(2) Free White Males 10 to 15

(2) Free White Males 16 to 25

(2) Free White Males 45 and over

(1 ) Free White Female 45 and over

(7) Slaves

Ben was enumerated for the last time in 1820 in Burke County, North Carolina.^[6]

1820 United States Federal Census - Benjamin Burgin Household

(1) Free White Male 16 to 25

(2) Free White Males 45 and over

(1) Free White Female 45 and over

(3) Male Slaves under 14

(2) Males Slaves 14 to 25

(1) Female Slave under 14

(1) Female Slave 14 to 25

(1) Female slave 26 to 44

Ben was buried in Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery in Old Fort, McDowell County, North Carolina.^[7]

Echoes In The Mist

Benjamin Burgin, 2nd child of John and Martha Burgin. Born November 30, 1741, Kent Co., Maryland. He was last found in Maryland records 1765. Sometime between 1765 and 1770, Ben came to North Carolina. The archives of Maryland and Virginia indicate there was a great migration into Virginia and North Carolina in that period, for the Crown was becoming increasingly oppressive. There was much discontent in the land. Literature of the day proclaimed parts of Virginia and North Carolina “a virtual paradise, the land of plenty, where land was cheap and so were taxes.” There was only one route to North Carolina, “The Great Road.” They gathered on “The Great Road” in Baltimore (it actually began in Philadelphia, PA., going to Baltimore). From Baltimore through Lancaster and York to Winchester, then up to Shenandoah Valley, crossing the Fluvanna River at Looney’s Ferry. Thence to Stauton River and down the river through the Blue Ridge, thence southward, crossing the Dan River below the mouth of the Mayo River, thence southward still, near the Moravian Settlement to the Yadkin River above the mouth of Reedy Creek. This route ends very near where he first settled on the Yadkin River.

Much has been written on Benjamin’s family, but little if any had documentation. Even the researchers are, for the most part, unknown. It is sometimes difficult to separate the old records from the old traditions, but with careful research one can build a fairly accurate picture of Ben’s family. Benjamin’s first appearance in official records of North Carolina in his marriage to Leah Mann, November 18, 1772, in Rowan Co. A Rowan Co. court record, dated April 17, 1759, shows Leah was bound to George Davidson as an orphan of John Mann. Her age was given as five years. This places her birth in 1754.

Benjamin was a prominent citizen of the time. He was a J. P. in Fayette Co., North Carolina and resigned from that office in 1785. He had close ties to the Carsons, Alexanders, and Davidson families. All of those families held large tracts of land in what is now the McDowell, Buncombe, Burke County area. This is probably responsible for Ben’s move into the same area. He settled on a tract of land just outside of present-day Old Fort. Ben was active in local civic and political affairs. A search of the minutes of Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, show that Ben served as Deputy Sheriff in 1789, Clerk of the Court in 1793, Justice in 1794 and 1795. In the October Session of 1796 Ben and Joseph Young, Esquires, were judges of the Upper Election for Elector, and Ben Adams and James Fallon were appointed clerks to said election. Benjamin acquired several large tracts of land in the County and was obviously quite prominent. Yet I can find no trace of him in Revolutionary War Records. Perhaps these records were lost when the Burke Co. Courthouse was burned by Yankees in 1865. Since Benjamin was a carpenter. He probably served as artisan or tradesman.

The History of Old Tyron and Rutherford Co.’s by Griffen give credit to “Major” Ben for battling the Cherokee Indians at the mouth of Rock House Creek (now Buncombe Co.) to avenge the death of Samuel Davidson. (Samuel, his wife, and child crossed the mountain and erected a cabin near the head of the Swannanoa River, thus trespassing on Cherokee Territory). The “credit” belongs to this Benjamin, not his son (often referred to as “Major” Ben). This happened ca. 1781, and “Major” Ben was born in December 1779. “Major” Ben furnished much of the (Revolutionary War) information to Lyman C. Draper of the famous Draper Papers, including the route taken by the “Over-the-Mountain-Men” to King’s Mountain. It seems rather odd that nowhere in his correspondence to Draper did he mention his father’s roll in the Revolution.

Benjamin departed this life April 5, 1823, “In the 81st year of his age” His will was presented for Probate July 1823, by executors John and Benjamin Burgin. Proved by Robert Logan. The will itself did not survive the burning of the courthouse, but the inventory of his estate did survive, and not only provides at least a partial list of his heirs, but insight on Ben and his neighbors and the items contained in a normal, affluent household of that time. In the 1820 census, Ben had eight slaves: five males and three females. There are eight in his inventory, but only if you count two children, aged three and six years old. Leah died August 9, 1837, and the inventory and sale of Ben’s estate on November 29, 1837, follows the one made in 1823.^[8]

Research Notes

Transcript of Marriage Certificate of Benjamin Burgin and Lear Mann: 18 November, 1772 , Rowan County, North Carolina North Carolina, Rowan County, Ss. Know all men by these presents that We Benjamin Burgin and Danl. Little are held and firmly bound unto our sovereign Lord and King, and Heirs and Successors in the just and full sum of fifty pounds proc. for the true payment of which, we bind ourselves our Heirs and Executors & Admrs. jointly and severally, firmly by these presents: sealed with our seals and dated this eighteenth Day of November 1772. The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas the above Benjamin Burgin hath made application for a license for a marriage to be celebrated between him and Lear Mann of the county of Rowan, according to the Directions of an Act of Assembly of this province. Now if it shall not appear at any Time hereafter that there is any just obstruction to said Marriage then this Obligation to be Void else to remain in full Force and Virtue. Signed and Seald & delivered in the presence of Ad: Osborn Benjamin Burgin (Seal) Danl. Little (Seal).^[2]

See Also: Website, Our Burgin Family Genealogy [1] last accessed 7 August 2023.

Acknowledgements

• This WikiTree profile was created through the import of Henderson Family Tree.ged on Jul 24, 2011 by Herb Henderson. See the changes tab on this page] for the details of edits by Herb and others.

Sources

1. ↑ * Birth: "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007835999; FHL microfilm: 14452
   FamilySearch Record: HYGV-N93Z (accessed 8 August 2023)
   Benjamin Burgin born on 25 Dec 1741, son of John Burgin & Martha, in Shrewsbury Parish, Kent, Maryland.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} * Marriage: "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979"
   citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 1,760,522
   FamilySearch Record: QJ8B-XFYH (accessed 8 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 9392-WDS6-WB Image number 01260
   Benjamin Burger marriage to Lear Man on 18 Nov 1772 in Rowan, North Carolina, United States.
3. ↑ * Marriage: "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979"
   citing Rowan, Bladen, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm
   FamilySearch Record: Q21B-6R4V (accessed 8 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSZX-PLNT Image number 00052
   Benjamin Burgin marriage to Lear Man on 18 Nov 1772 in Rowan, Bladen, North Carolina, United States.
4. ↑ * 1790 Census: "United States Census, 1790"
   citing Page: 91,92; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M637; Line: 27162; Digital film/folder number: 005157139; FHL microfilm: 0568147; Image number: 63
   FamilySearch Record: XHKB-LQF (accessed 8 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYY8-3HZH
   Ben Burgin in Burke, North Carolina, United States.
5. ↑ * 1800 Census: "United States Census, 1800"
   citing Page: 729; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M32; Digital film/folder number: 004956030; FHL microfilm: 337905; Image number: 154
   FamilySearch Record: XHR8-VVV (accessed 8 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRZC-5QJ
   Benjamin Borgen in Burke, North Carolina, United States.
6. ↑ * 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
   citing Page: 89; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M33; Digital film/folder number: 005156906; FHL microfilm: 0162799; Image number: 58
   FamilySearch Record: XHLX-7BC (accessed 8 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YYJ-SSM5
   Benjamin Burgan in Burke, North Carolina, United States.
7. ↑ * Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #43981577 (accessed 8 August 2023)
   Memorial page for Benjamin Burgin (30 Nov 1741-5 Apr 1823), citing Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery, Old Fort, McDowell County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by S. Fuller (contributor 47195777).
8. ↑ Silvers, Peggy. “Echoes in the Mist”, Nebo, North Carolina, 1989 Pages 10 - 17