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Wright Cemetery
For generations, the families of
those buried at Wright Cemetery near Frankewing Tennessee have
gathered each year to renew acquaintances, share a meal, and
decorate the gravesites.
The cemetery is maintained by family
members' contributions to the general fund.
Click
here for the website.
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Other Family Sites
Here are links to websites of other
family members.
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Sites of Friends
I have begun to include links to
websites of friends and acquaintances.
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History of the
Burney Name
The Burney crest at left includes
the phrase "Sapere aude incipe" which means "Dare to know, start!"
The Highland surname Burney has
been prominent in adding a weighty influence to an already monumental
image of the Scottish Highlanders. From the sea swept Hebridean Islands
and the mountainous western coast of Scotland, this surname has emerged
as a notable family whose history is romanticized by the skirl of the
bagpipes, the brandished sword, the tartan kilt, and the highland games.
Professional analysts, using some
of the oldest manuscripts, including Clan genealogies, the Exchequer
Rolls of Scotland, the Ragman Rolls, the Inquisitio, the Black Book,
parish cartularies, baptismal records, and tax records and many other
documents found the name Burney in Elgin Scotland, where they had been
seated from ancient times. The Burney name is associated with the
Matheson Clan, otherwise known as the Clan of the Bear. Tradition claims
the Mathesons assisted in 843 against the Picts who were the ancient
race in the Highlands of Scotland. From feuds with neighbors, the
Mathesons became much reduced and dispersed, and from the 15th century
followed the MacKenzie banner. Burney comes from Septs of the Matheson
Clan, in particular the MacBirnie and MacBurnie Septs.
 The name Burney was found to have
many variations in spelling, particularly in transferring the name into
and from Gaelic. The surname was sometimes spelled Birnie, Birney, Birny,
Birnye, Byrnye, Byrny, Berney, Birne, Byrne, McBirny, McBirnie, McBurny,
McBurnie, McBerney, and these changes in spelling occurred, even between
father and son. It was not uncommon for a clansman in his own lifetime
to be born with one spelling, marry another, and yet another to appear
on his headstone. Sometimes a different spelling was used to claim a
religious or clan affiliation, or even a division of the family.
The name Burney emerged as a
Scottish Clan or family in the territory of Elgin. They first settled in
Brennath in Moray, where the name became Birnie. James Birnie was a
businessman in the town of Elgin in 1261. Sir Andrew Birnie of Saline
was head of the clan about 1500. He was a Senator of the College of
Justice. The Burney's also branched to Broomhill where they also had
estates. Walter Birnie was the King's Chaplain. In the Middle Ages the
Birnies became an ecclesiastical family and held many important posts in
the reformed church. Notable among the Clan from early times was Sir
Andrew Birnie of Saline.
Many heads of families migrated
from Scotland to Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries. The became
known as the "Scotch/Irish". They were granted the lands of the native
Catholic Irish. In Ireland they settled in North East Ulster and assumed
the name of McBirnie and McBurney.
Later, clansmen sailed aboard the
small sailing ships known as the "White Sails: which plied the stormy
Atlantic, ships such as the Hector, the Rambler, and the Dove,
indenturing themselves for up to ten years to pay their passage. Many of
these overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 to 70 percent of the
passenger list, the rest dying at sea.
In North America, many settled
Virginia, the Carolinas, Pictou, Nova Scotia, and the Ottawa Valley. One
of the first migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the name
Burney, of that same Clan or family, was William Birnie who settled in
Philadelphia in 1811; David Birney settled in Philadelphia in 1840;
William McBerney settled in New York State in 1804; James McBirney
settled in Philadelphia in 1844; John McBirney settled in Charles Town,
South Carolina in 1767; Andrew McBurney settled in Philadelphia in 1842;
Margaret McBurney settled in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1767;
William McBurnie settled in St. John Island in 1775.
Prominent kinsmen included: General
William Birney, American Revolution; Colonel Eugene Birnie, The Guides
Cavalry; and Alfred Earle Birney, Canadian poet and novelist.
Sources: The Hall of
Names Certification Number 964211-12.17M-25001 (www.hall-of-names.com)
and Collins Guide to Scots Kith & Kin (ISBN
0-00-435665-9) |
