Burgess M. Jester (abt. 1846 - 1883)

Born about 1846 in Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Laura Ellen Harris — married 19 Aug 1869 in , Lafayette, AR

Descendants

Died 4 Jul 1883 at about age 37 in Angola Prison, Louisiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Greg Wood [send private message] and Lynette Jester [send private message]

Biography

Burges went to prison in Louisiana for manslaughter. He and another fellow had been camping and after eating got into some kind of argument and started fighting. Organs in the other man were ruptured causing hemorrhaged and death. Just before Burgess was to be released and return home, the guards beat him to death.

A story handed down was the family didn't celebrate the 4th of July in any manner after the death of Burgess, as that was either the day he died or when they heard about the death.

I have been in personal contact with several descendents conducting personal interviews and family reunions.

"United States Census, 1850," 1850 Eldorado, Union, Arkansas

1860 Eldorado, Union, Arkansas Census Index "United States Census, 1860", Eldorado, Union, Arkansas^[1]

Burgess Jester Male 53 S Carolina

James Jester Male 18 Georgia

Wm Jester Male 16 Georgia

John Jester Male 14 Georgia

Burgess Jester Male 12 Georgia

Levi Jester Male 10 Arkansas

Jemima Jester Female 8 Arkansas

Emile Atzinger Male 23 Switzerland

"Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957," Burges M Jester and Laura E Harris, 19 Aug 1869; citing , Lafayette, Arkansas^[2]

"United States Census, 1870," Walker Creek, Lafayette, Arkansas^[3]

Burgess R Lester Male 24 Georgia

Ellen Lester Female 21 Arkansas

Seri Lester Male 20 Arkansas

"United States Census, 1880," Gap Springs, Polk, Arkansas, ^[4]

B J Jester Self M 32 Georgia

Ellen Jester Wife F 30 Louisiana

Henry Jester Son M 10 Arkansas

Annia Jester Daughter F 6 Arkansas

Riley Jester Son M 4 Arkansas

Emma Jester Daughter F 1 Arkansas

Name: B M Jester

Event Type: Court

Event Date: 12 Nov 1881 (convicted, sentenced)

Event Place: Bossier Par. Louisiana, United States

Age: 35

Birth Year (Estimated): 1846

Birthplace: Georgia

Death Date: 4 Jul 1883

Conviction: Manslaughter

Sentence 2 years

Jan 11, 1882 beginning

Jan 11, 1884 ending

Laborer

Physical Description: Fair, Gray eyes, Black hair, 5 ft 6, scar right arm, scar left elbow

Can read and write?: Yes

Married

Cause of death: "pneumonia"

He was beaten by the guards. He wrote a letter home just before he died.

"Louisiana State Penitentiary Records, 1866-1963", ^[5] 2 abstracted images 1 and 2

"Louisiana State Penitentiary Records, 1866-1963," database with images, ^[6] abstracted images 3 and 4

"Louisiana State Penitentiary Records, 1866-1963," database with images, ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M871-XJD : 13 December 2017), Burgess Jester, 1860.
2. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N935-GYG : 27 September 2017), Burges M Jester and Laura E Harris, 19 Aug 1869; citing , Lafayette, Arkansas, United States, county offices, Arkansas; FHL microfilm 1,004,493.
3. ↑ , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCH-3YK : 12 April 2016), Burgess R Lester, Arkansas, United States; citing p. 234, family 62, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,556.
4. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWK-SYW : 12 August 2017), B J Jester, Gap Springs, Polk, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 130, sheet 547B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0054; FHL microfilm 1,254,054.
5. ↑ database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:43VN-QJ2M : Sat Aug 05 23:55:57 UTC 2023), Entry for B M Jester, 12 Nov 1881.
6. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YP2-WG1?cc=1931391&wc=SJ7Z-W38%3A227357201%2C227565201 : 20 May 2014), Correctional institution records > Register of convicts received vol 8 no 1-9073 1866-1889 > image 334 of 587; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.
7. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYP2-WBV?cc=1931391&wc=SJ7Z-W38%3A227357201%2C227565201 : 20 May 2014), Correctional institution records > Register of convicts received vol 8 no 1-9073 1866-1889 > image 335 of 587; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.

Research Notes and Corrections

March 10, 2016 Spoke with a direct descendent attempting to find more about his hearing and the possible date of death. In a letter he had signed his name as Burgess M. The family believes Madison, but no documentary evidence.

I'm not sure he even knew his name. He used Burgess M. twice, Burgess R. once, and B. J. once, and on his son's, William Riley, death certificate lists his father as Bird. Bird was used as a nickname for Burgess J Jester, and on a land document in Georgia for Burgess Jester.

Also See

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9KYW-GTM
• https://www.myheritage.com/person-1500149_451028701_451028701/burgess-r-m-jester
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/186710137/person/312438788575/facts/citation/0/edit/details/facts