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Frances Davis (c1808-1892) and Wilson Burleson of Burke, Yancey and Mitchell Co., NC

[Davis Home] - [Table of Contents] - William Davis - Frances Burleson.

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Frances Davis Burleson is my 4 times Great Aunt

Frances Davis’s birth date has been hard to pin down:

∙           1850 census age 43, born ca 1806/07.

∙           1860 census age 48, born ca 1811/12.

∙           1870 census age 60, born ca 1809/10.

∙           1880 census age 71, born ca 1808/09.

Her tombstone shows her death on Feb 4, 1892, “age 83 years.” That computes to a birth of ca 1808/09 which matches her 1880 census entry and isn’t far off from her 1850 and 1870 entries. Her next sibling was born in June 1810 so it works if Frances were born late 1808 or early 1809.

She is listed as “Franky” or “Frankie” on some records, “Fanny” on others, which are both common nicknames for “Frances.” Her tombstone lists her as “Franka” which isn’t all that common.

Frances, obviously named for her mother, was born in Burke Co., NC, now Avery Co., NC, likely on the Three Mile Creek property.

Frances is a child of William Davis (1731-1841) and Frances Carpenter as named in his 1836 Will.

She seems to be home with her parents on the 1810 census, aged under 10 (born 1800/1810) and still home in 1820, aged 10-15 (1804/1810).

Frances Davis married Wilson Burleson in the late 1820s. He was born ca 1804/05 in Burke (now Avery) Co., NC, a son of Aaron Burleson and Amelia McKinney. Wilson is the nephew of Thomas Burleson who married Frances’s older sister Nancy Davis.

Wilson Burleson was probably named after his uncle Wilson McKinney. Some old family histories list him as “Wilt” Burleson, which I suppose was his nickname.

They are on the 1830 census in Burke Co., NC in the midst of other Burlesons, Buchanans and McKinneys. Frances is listed either way too old or too young. Perhaps she wasn’t actually married to him yet. More likely she’s the one listed as 10-14 which is too young, but perhaps listed there by accident.

1830 Census, Burke Co., NC

Page

Name (Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

202

Wilson Burleson

1

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 20-29 (1800/1810)       Wilson Burleson (c1805)

1m 0-4 (1825/1830)            Charles C. Burleson (1829) son

1f 40-49 (1780/1790)         Aunt? Sister?

1f 10-14 (1815/1820)         Frances Davis Burleson (c1809) wife*

* age way off, but must be her.

In Jul 1831 Burke County court, Wilson Burleson was paid $2.00 for killing a grown wolf and producing the scalp in court as proof. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1830-1834.)

In Jan 1833 Burke County court, Wilson Burleson was paid $10.50 for killing three grown panthers. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1830-1834.)

They are on the 1840 census in Yancey with many of the same neighbors from 1830.

1840 Census - Rutherford County, North Carolina (See Appendix A for a description of this census)

Page	Name (Males first row, females on second)	0-4	5-9	10-14	15-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60-69	70-79	80-89	90-99	100+
255	Wilson Burleson	2	1	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		1	~	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 30-39 (1800/1810)       Wilson Burleson (c1805)

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            Charles C. Burleson (1829) son

2m 0-4 (1835/1840)            1. William D. Burleson (c1835) son

                                               2. Jacob Burleson (1837) son

1f 30-39 (1800/1810)         Frances Davis Burleson (c1809) wife

1f 10-14 (1825/1830)         Nancy Burleson (c1830) daughter

1f 0-4 (1835/1840)              Emelia Burleson (c1840) daughter

They are on the 1850 census in Yancey next to brother William Burleson, and a few houses from brother Thomas Burleson.

1850 Census, Yancey Co., NC House (cut off), Family 509

By 1853 they’d moved a short distance into neighboring Watauga Co., NC.

Wilson Burleson became administrator of the estate of his father Aaron Burleson in Spring 1854. (Yancey Co., NC Court Records 1844-1870.)

They are on the 1860 census in Watauga Co., NC.

1860 Census, Watauga Co., NC, Mountain Home District, Cranberry & Childsville PO, House 304/305, Family 255

In 1861 Mitchell County was formed from Yancey and Watauga and other counties. The Burlesons fell into the new county.

They are listed on the 1870 census in Mitchell.

1870 Census, Mitchell Co, NC, Lynville Township, Yellow Mountain PO, House 1, Family 1

Wilson Burleson died on 25 Jul 1876 in Mitchell (now Avery) Co., NC. He’s buried at the Burleson Cemetery in Avery Co., NC.

Frances is listed on the 1880 census in Mitchell Co., NC with her son Robert.

1880 Census, Mitchell Co., NC, Linville Township, House 157, Family 157

Frances Davis Burleson died 4 Feb 1892 in Mitchell (now Avery) Co., NC. She is buried at the Burleson Cemetery. Her stone is inscribed “Franka Burleson Died Feb 4 1892 Age 83 Years.”

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Children

A court order for Wilson Burleson dated 8 Oct 1877 in Mitchell Co., NC proves they had ten children including three were dead by then. Their children were named in their stead.

Your Petitioner Francis Burleson is the widow of Wilson Burleson deceased who died intestate about the -- day of 1876 leaving him surviving his children:

William D. Burleson

Jacob Burleson

Mildred Calloway wife of Benjamin Calloway

Aaron Burleson

Melinda Daniels wife of Martin Daniels

Rachel Cuthbertson wife of Thomas Cuthbertson

and Robert Burleson.

And his three grandchildren (children of his son Charles Burleson)

Jason E. Burleson

Louisa Green wife of Landon Green

Charles Burleson.

And his ten grandchildren (children of his daughter Nancy Hughs wife of Jason Hughs):

Adelaide Carpenter wife of John Carpenter

Francis Johnson wife of William Johnson

Lydia JOhnson wife of Thomas Johnson

Elisha Hughs

Adults, and

Celia Hughs, Spencer Hughs, Brownlow Hughs, Wilson Hughs, William Hughs and Theodosia Hughs, infants by their guardian Jason Hughs.

And his three grandchildren (children of his deceased son Taylor Burleson):

Burgin Burleson

Aaron Burleson

Melinda Burleson

all infants by their guardian Aaron Burleson.

Who are the only heirs of the said Wilson Burleson and are the petitioners above named.

(Mitchell Co., NC Court Orders and Decrees Vol 1, 1870-1915, pp. 78-87 and Mitchell Co., NC Estates, Wilson Burleson 1876.)

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Frances Davis and Wilson Burleson.

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Revised: January 20, 2026

Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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