Return |Home | Contact | NCGenWeb | Statewide

BURNSIDE PLANTATION

(click photo for larger image)

Williamsboro, Vance County, North Carolina

 The plantation on which Burnside now stands was first granted to Joseph Davenport by Lord Granville in 1750. He apparently built a house and several outbuildings about 1760. The smokehouse to the northwest of the present house is probably the only remaining structure of this complex. In 1768, Davenport sold his place "on both sides of Little Island Creek" to Charles Kennan. Kennan transferred the property to Vinckler Jones on May 2, 1786. His son, John Jones, is thought to have built the present house about 1800. On Nov. 10, 1818, John Jones sold Dr. Thomas Hunt approximately 2500 acres of land including the house. In April 1824, Dr. Hunt conveyed the house and 2000 acres to Patrick Hamilton for $10,000. Hamilton was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the area, serving as a state senator from Granville Co. Hamilton gave the plantation the name Burnside in honor of his birthplace, Burnside, Bannarkshire, Scotland.
During the Civil War, Burnside was the residence of Thomas Hardy, a Virginian. His daughter, Pinckney Hardy, married a Union soldier despite protests of her father and brothers, and became the mother of General Douglas A. MacArthur.
The house changed hands several times after the War until it was bought by R.B. Crowder of Raleigh, in 1937. He was responsible for restorin the house prior to conveying the property to Annie, Florence and Clara Beck of Henderson, NC in 1943.

 

To wife Elizabeth Jones:
Phebe
Delpha
Jinny
Daniel
Dick
Mary
Amanda

To Son Westwood A. Jones:
Lewis
Doll
Judy
Limmon
Tom
Caty

To son John Jones:
Lewis
Milley
Armistead

To John's son, Vinkler Jones:
Daniel

I give unto his(John's) daughter Carroline:
Dolley & her two children named Sintha & Charles

To son Francis Jones:
Daphney
Anney
Rose
George
Anthony
Lewis
Rachel
Lelina
Mary,her two children
Hannah

To son William Jones:
Larke
Nan
Dilcey, her child Venustea
Lucy
Lewis
Eddy mun
Granville
Angelina
Salva her two children Jane, Judith
Harrison
Dick
Jimmey
Amanda
Mary her child Chancey
Tom Jones
Jeffrey

To daughter Nancy Booth:
Suky
Grace
Fanny
Betty
Phebe
Juno


To daughter Elizabeth Burrow:
Sarah
Hannah, her child named Harry
Violet
Charles
Ritter

My two negro women old Phebe & Delpha shall be free after my wife's death.

There was a big fight in Court about this case because this will was not probated until 1832, after being contested by daughter Mary Harris, who was given only 2 dollars in her father's will.