Marty and Karla Grant

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Nancy Davis (c1795-aft 1860) and Thomas Burleson and George W. Dean of Burke and Yancey Co., NC

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Nancy Davis Burleson Dean is my 4 times Great Aunt

Nancy Davis was born ca 1794/95 per her ages on the 1850 census (55) and 1860 census (65). I don’t know of anyone on her mother’s side of the family that Nancy may have been named for. Perhaps she was named after someone on her father William’s side. Nancy was born in Burke Co., NC, now Avery Co., NC, probably on the Crossnore property.

Nancy 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 1800 census, aged under 10 (born 1790/1800) and still home in 1810, aged 10-15 (1794/1800).

Nancy married Thomas Burleson before ca 1818, in Burke (now Avery) Co., NC. He was born ca 1790 per census analysis:

∙           1820 census age 26-44, born 1775/1794.

∙           1830 census age 40-49, born 1780/1790.

∙           1840 census age 40-49, born 1790/1800.

A birth date of ca 1790 is the only way to reconcile all three of the above census entries.

I don’t know where he was born, nor who his parents were. There were a few others of his surname in the area, all presumably closely related. Nancy Davis’s younger sister Frances married a Wilson Burleson. Undocumented online trees list Thomas as a son of an older Thomas Burleson and wife Margaret Green(e). This might be correct, but I don’t know what the proof is. I’ll use it pending evidence one way or the other. Those same trees show that Thomas and Wilson were not brothers, but that Wilson was Thomas’s nephew.

Some of the records I found from the 1810s and 1820s might be for the elder Thomas instead of his supposed son Thomas Jr.

A deed dated 18 Jan 1814 from John McKinney to Thomas Burleson for 150 acres was proven in court in Jan 1819. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1819.)

A deed dated 21? Sep 1816? from Thomas Cole to Thomas Burleson for 200 acres was proven in court in Jan 1821. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1829.)

Thomas, his brothers-in-law George Rowan, David Browning and many other familiar names, were listed on a court order from April 1817 in Burke Co., NC.

“Ordered by court that William Henry English oversee rode from David Brownings old place to the State line on the top of the yellow mountain with the following hands, to wit,

Reubin McKiney, Wilson McKiney, Evan Hughs, Jonathan Burlison, Aron Burlison, Reubin Young, Joseph Green, John Buckhanon, William Buckhanon, Arthur Green, John Collis, James Burlison, Thomas Burlison, Thomas Carver, Robert Vance, Arthur Buckhanon Jr, Strawther Suttles, Joseph Suttles, William Vance, David Vance, Mathew Vance, Daniel Caldwell, George Rowan, Daniel English, Daniel Oaks, Lodowick Oaks, Henry English, Thomas Davinport, Willis Phillips, William Phillips of Rock Cove Creek, William English overseer. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1807-1818.)

Thomas Burleson is listed on the 1820 census in Burke between Nancy’s father William Davis and her uncle Jacob Carpenter.

1820 Census, Burke Co., NC

Page

Name

M 0 - 9

M 10 - 15

M 16 - 17

M 16 - 25

M 26 - 44

M 45 +

F 0 - 9

F 10 - 15

F 16 - 25

F 26 - 44

F 45 +

F P C

S l a v e s

61

Thomas Burlison

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~

1

~

1

~

~

1

~

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~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 26-44 (1775/1794)       Thomas Burleson (c1790)

1f 26-44 (1775/1794)         Nancy Davis Burleson (c1795) wife

1f 0-9 (1810/1820)              Margaret Burleson (c1819) daughter

In July 1820 Burke County court, Aden Carver was appointed overseer of the Yellow Mountain road from David Tate’s plantation to Gilbert White’s with the hands to work under him, (to wit): Adin Carver, William Poteat, Henry Steveter?, John Davis, Jacob Davis, Jacob Carpenter, Bedford Wiseman, Alexander Wiseman, John Ollis, Thomas Carver, Gilbert White & Thomas Burllison. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1819.)

On 12 Aug 1820, Thomas Burlison of Burke made a deed to Joseph Green of Burke for $150 for 50 acres on south side of Gouge’s Creek that falls into Cane Creek which was granted “to said Burlison by patent bearing date the 26^th December 1796 which land the said Burlison doth by these presents now grant unto the said Joseph Green ...” Thomas signed with a mark. Witnesses were James Burlison and Arthur Green. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, pp. 137-138.)

The deed above has to be for Thomas’s father since it was granted in 1796 when our Thomas was only a child.

On 25 Sep 1822, Thomas Burleson of Burke made a deed to James Burleson of Burke for $400 for 100 acres on the right hand fork of Cove Creek. Thomas signed with a mark. Witnesses were Aaron Green and Harris Pitman. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, pp. 173-174.)

In January 1824 Burke county court, it was ordered that Thomas Burleson oversee the road in room of Aden Carver leading toward the Yellow Mountain from David Tate’s plantation to Gilbert White’s with the hands to work on the road (to wit): John Ollis, Bedford Wiseman, William Carpenter (Nancy’s 1^st cousin), Jacob Davis (Nancy’s brother), Thomas Davis (Nancy’s brother), John Davis (Nancy’s brother), John Vance (soon-to-be brother-in-law), Thomas Vance, James Moody, David Carpenter (Nancy’s 1^st cousin), Lewis Vance, William Vaughan (Nancy’s brother-in-law), Alexander Wiseman, Thomas Burlison, Josiah Wiseman, William Roberts. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1819.)

In Jan 1825 court, Thomas Burleson was paid two dollars for killing a wolf and producing the scalp. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1819.)

In April 1827 the court ordered that several men view and condemn 3000 acres towards the building of an Ironworks. The names: Isaac T. Avery, Jonas Davenport, George Rowin, Jacob Davis, Jacob Carpenter, Aden Carver, Joseph Hopson, Bedford Wiseman, Aron Burlison, Thos Burlison, Harris Pitman, Wilson McKeney, Reuben McKeney, John Davis, Reuben Young, John Buchanan, and Shackwell? Green. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1819.)

They are on the 1830 census in Burke next to William Houston, and two houses from Andrew Davis and a few more from my ancestor Wilson Gilbert (not related to the Davis or Burleson families as far as I’m aware, but with relatives in common). Nancy herself doesn’t seem to be listed in the household in 1830 unless she’s mistakenly listed as aged 60-69. Her omission is probably an error, or else she was residing elsewhere at the time. The older woman could be Thomas’s widowed mother perhaps if she were indeed widowed by then.

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+
194	Thomas Berlison	~	~	~	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~
		2	2	1	~	~	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 40-49 (1780/1790)       Thomas Burleson (c1790)

1f 60-69 (1760/1770)         Mother? (Nancy Greene Burleson)?

1f 10-14 (1815/1820)         Margaret Burleson (c1819) daughter

2f 5-9 (1820/1825)              1. Frances Burleson (c1820) daughter > m by 1837

                                               2. Daughter? (1820/1825)

2f 0-4 (1825/1830)              1. Dulcenia Burleson (c1827) daughter

                                               2. Elizabeth Burleson (c1830) daughter

In the July 1830 court session, it was ordered that a list of men be exempt from working on the Yellow Mountain Road and the Cain Creek Road: Shadrick Green, William Buchanan, John Buchanan, William Buchan (sic), James Buchanan, Aaron Burleson, Thomas Burleson, Thomas McKinney, Wilson Burleson, Simeon Burleson, Joseph Green, John Green, Bretton? Sorrell, James Buchanan, William Burleson and James Burleson. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1830-1834.)

In Oct 1831 court, Thomas Burleson was paid two dollars for killing a grown wolf and producing the scalp. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1830-1834.)

In Jan 1832 court, it was ordered that Thomas Burleson oversee the road in room of James Wilson from the ford of Toe River on Tate’s plantation to J. Murphey’s plantation on Toe River with the following hands, to wit, Jacob Carpenter’s hands, James Moody, Bedford Wiseman, Grant’s hands, John Ollis, Johnston on Davenport’s place, Jonah Wiseman and all the hands on the east side of Toe River on D. Tate’s place and keep the same in good repair ... (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1830-1834.)

On 11 Feb 1833, Arthur Buchanan, Joseph Buchanan, John Green and Thomas Burleson, all of Burke, made a deed to Arthur Green for 50 acres for $100. The land was on Gouge’s Creek that falls into Cane Creek. It refers to an original survey dated 4 Sep 1802 but doesn’t say to who. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, pp. 308-309.)

I don’t know who the above are to each other or why they were jointly selling land. This could be joint heirs of someone who died, or perhaps the men had gone into together on the land.

0n 13 Sep 1833, Thomas Burleson made a deed to Harris Pitmon, both of Burke Co., NC, for $100 for 50 acres on Cane Creek. Thomas signed. Witnesses were Simeon Burleson and Elija Green. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, p. 171.)

On 13 Jun 1835, Thomas Burleson and Aaron Burleson witnessed a deed from John Brown to Moses Peterson. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, p. 290.)

On 29 Sep 1835, Thomas Burleson and Bedford Wiseman witnessed a deed from John Brown to James R. Wilson. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, pp. 23-24.)

Nancy was named in her father’s 1836 Will as “Nancy Burleson.”

In Feb 1837, Thomas Burleson was tried for Assault and Battery and found guilty. He was fined $100 and ordered into custody of the Sheriff. I don’t know if this is our Thomas Burleson or the one born 1809 (son of Aaron). (Yancey Co., NC Court Records 1834-1848.)

On 4 Sep 1839, John Brown, Agent of the heirs and representatives of Margaret Latimore, Richard Dale and Henry Latimore of PA and MD, made a deed to Thomas Burleson of Yancey Co., NC for $12 for 50 acres on waters of North Toe River and north east side of the Little Yellow Mountain. (Yancey Co., NC Deed Book 1, pp. 231-232.)

There are two Thomas Burlesons listed in Yancey Co., NC on the 1840 census. Ours is the older of the two. Ours is near Nancy’s brother John Davis. The younger Thomas has “AS” written after his name, indicating “Aaron’s son” presumably.

1840 Census, Yancey 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+

264

Thos Burleson AS

2

1

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1

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1

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1

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~

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~

~

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275

Thos Burleson

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1

~

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~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

1

1

1

~

1

~

~

~

~

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My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 40-49 (1790/1800)       Thomas Burleson (c1790)

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            William A. Burleson (c1832) son

1f 40-49 (1790/1800)         Nancy Davis Burleson (c1795) wife

1f 20-29 (1810/1820)         Margaret Burleson (c1819) daughter

1f 15-19 (1820/1825)         Daughter? (1820/1825) > gone by 1850

1f 10-14 (1825/1830)         Dulcenia Burleson (c1827) daughter

1f 5-9 (1830/1835)              Elizabeth Burleson (c1830) daughter

Thomas Burleson died before 19 Oct 1846, for on that date in court:

It having appeared to the satisfaction of the court that Thomas Burleson died leaving no Last Will & Testament Nancy Burleson widow of Thomas Burleson decd, appeared in open court and informed the court she did not wish to administer on said estate whereupon the court appointed Wm E. Wiseman and John Ollis Jr as adms on said estate who are required to enter in to bond ... with Wm Davis security ...

(Yancey Co., NC Court Records 1834-1868 Fall Term 1846.)

William E. Wiseman and John Ollis were Thomas and Nancy Burleson’s sons-in-law. William Davis was Nancy’s brother-in-law, married to her sister Rachel Davis.

Also in Fall Term 1846, the court ordered that Tilman Blalock, Esq, Arthur Ervin & Alexander Wiseman & F. L. Avery be appointed commissioners to lay off and allot to Nancy Burleson widow of Thomas Burleson deceased one years provision out of the personal estate ... (Yancey Co., NC Court Records 1834-1868 Fall Term 1846.)

Nancy is listed on the 1850 census as an apparent widow. Nancy was listed next to Thomas Cantrell 25, who might be somehow related to her half sister Elizabeth Davis Cantrell, but I don’t know how. There was a Cynthia Burleson, 13, a few houses away. I don’t know how she’s connected.

1850 Census, Yancey Co., NC, House (cut off), Family 524

Nancy Davis Burleson remarried in the 1850s to George W. Dean a Blacksmith. He was born ca 1801/2 per his age on the 1850 census (48) or ca 1797/98 per his age in 1860 (62). Both records show him born in Virginia. He was on the 1850 census in Yancey with several children but no wife, apparently recently widowed. On that census he was next to Rev. John Buchanan whose wife was Senia Burleson (c1803), likely sister of Thomas.

1850 Census, Yancey Co., NC, House (cut off), Family 761

None of his children were with them in 1860, but Nancy’s son William was still home. They are next to Andrew Davis (Jr) whose wife Margaret Burleson is Nancy’s daughter.

1860 Census, Yancey Co., NC, Yellow Mountain PO, House 1181, Family 1181

I wasn’t able to find Nancy Davis Burleson Dean on the 1870 census, nor could I find George W. Dean. They appear to have died before then. She was dead by 1873 for a summons regarding the heirs of William Davis, deceased, did not include her, but her children instead. (See below.)

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Children

No Will or probate records were found for Thomas or Nancy naming their heirs. Census analysis suggests they had six children consisting of 5 daughters and 1 son.

That son is identified as William as he was with Nancy in both 1850 and 1860.

How about the daughters? Three of them are proven by the estate records of Samuel Carpenter, which fortunately included summonses to the heirs of William Davis, deceased. For Nancy’s family the summons was issued on 4 Oct 1873 to the Sheriff of Mitchell County who was ordered to summon Andrew Davis, Dulcena Wiseman, William Burleson and Elizabeth McCurry.

Records show that Andrew Davis was married to Margaret Burleson who was dead by 1873, thus her widowed husband was named in her stead on behalf of their children.

Dulcena (alias Cena) Burleson married William E. Wiseman, who was also named one of the administrators of her father’s estate in 1846.

Elizabeth Burleson married Walter McCurry.

William Burleson was also named in the summons, though we have other proof that he’s Thomas and Nancy’s son.

This leaves two daughters unidentified, both presumably dead by 1873. One was born ca 1820/25. I believe this is Frances Burleson (c1820) who married John Ollis. John was one of the administrators of her father’s estate in 1846 so that tracks. Frances is a proven Burleson per the death certificate of one of her children so that works too. However, why wasn’t she included in the 1873 summons? That sort of thing happens, especially when whoever is preparing the summons can’t remember all the children someone had, or just doesn’t know and has to rely on others for the information.

This leaves one unidentified daughter, one born 1820/1825. So far I have no strong clues who this might be. It’s possible she died unmarried before the 1850 census or did marry, but left no children, or moved away and was forgotten by those outside the immediate family by 1873.

 

1.         Margaret Burleson (c1819-c1870/73) m. Andrew Davis.

2.         Frances Burleson (c1820-1870/73) m John Ollis.

3.         Unidentified Daughter (1820/1825). Home in 1830 and 1840, gone by 1850.

4.         Dulcenia Burleson (c1827-aft 1880) m. William E. Wiseman.

5.         Elizabeth Burleson (c1830-aft 1880) m. Walter McCurry.

6.         William A. Burleson (c1832-aft 1880) m. Mary Weatherman.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Nancy Davis and Thomas Burleson and George W. Dean.

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Revised: January 17, 2026

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

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