Hall and Duckworth in Benton Co, AR History.

Donald Godfrey - Sep 9, 2004
The History of Benton Co, AR indicates that Robert Duckworth arrived in 1850 and Robert Hall, with his sons Jesse and Young arrived the following year.
You can find this by searching for Robert Duckworth on www.ancestry.com and it will list this history in the results.
Don

Comments

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Elycia Whitmill - Sep 10, 2004
As a side note, Robert's sister Betsey (Elizabeth) was already in Benton County, AR with her husband Richard Burgess. They showed up in 1839 from Bedford County, TN. Many of their children followed.

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Donald Godfrey - Sep 14, 2004
Elycia,
Have you determined for sure that Richard Burgess, who married Elizabeth "Betsy" Hall, was not a son of William Burgess who died in Franklin Co, AL.
Every other researcher, I have found, puts Richard as a son of William.
I went to the Franklin Co, AL census and found R. E. Burgess born about 1791 in NC. Is this the one you think is William's son Richard?
Also, would you give me your connection to this family?
Thanks, Don

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Elycia Whitmill - Sep 14, 2004
Don,
Richard and Betsy would be my 4th-great grandparents. I have not, for 100%, decided that Richard who married Betsy Hall is or is not the son of William Burgess who died in Franklin County, AL. I have found researchers split on this.
Generally, they give Richard Burgess' (of Burke County, NC) birthdate, but they give him a different wife (Mary Elizabeth Kimmens). I have difficulties believing Richard had two wives at the same time.
I believe that the R.E. Burgess you find born in 1791 is William's (of Franklin Co.) son, not the Richard born in Burke County. (Richard/Burke Co. was born in 1782.)
Additionally, some researchers justify their thought that "my" Richard is "their" Franklin County one by saying that Bedford County was their market place thus census place. I have found records of at least two Richard Burgess' during this time frame that say they are from Bedford County (enlistment records help with this). At least one is listed as living in the Flat Creek area in Bedford County.
Also, in the Goodspeed that is often referenced, William W. Burgess (of Benton County, AR) says he came with his father, Richard, in 1839 from Bedford County, TN. He didn't say "we came from Franklin County, AL". (W.W. was an adult when he went to Arkansas so he should remember where he was from.) This is a small point, but one that seems important to me.
I come down on the side of researchers who believe that Richard Burgess and Elizabeth Hall Burgess ended up in Benton County, AR and that they are not from Franklin County, AL. I have not settled on a father for Richard. Some who believe that Richard and Betsy did not live in Franklin County, do believe that his father is a William or Richard from Anne Arundel, MD. Others believe that his father may be named Richard.
There are a number of issues with the prevailing researcher's thoughts. I have listed but a few of the issues. I continue to work on this aspect of things because I believe my only hope to finding Richard's father involves resolving the multiple Richard questions.
I am ready to be convinced one way or the other.

Elycia