David Hugh Rhead married Anna Belle Burton on January 18, 1950.  They had two children, Gary Edward and Carolyn Frances.  Early in the '90's, Gary became interested in genealogy and started researching the ancestors of Rhead and Burton.  Shortly before he passed away, he kindled his sister's interest in family roots.  Gary died in 1998 but the research continues and, as those involved in genealogy can attest, is never ending and highly addictive.  This web site is dedicated to my brother, Gary.  Every time I find new information about an ancestor, I can't help but think that Gary has led me to it.

We never know when a loved one will be taken from us because of a serious health problem.  Please remember to donate to the National Kidney Foundation and the American Heart Association.  Only with continued funding can researchers hope to find treatments and cures for the many illnesses that can end a life too early.

My Roots

The majority of my ancestors came from England.  There are a few exceptions such as Lamar (believed to be from France), Lerch (from Germany), Galbraith (possibly Scotland), and Mahan (Ireland).  According to the death certificate on Benjamin Lyons, Mary Galbraith (mother of  Benjamin Lyons) was born in England but I have discovered that the name Galbraith is supposedly Scottish.  According to census records, my Mahan ancestors are originally from Ireland.  But for the most part, my ancestors came from England, which probably explains why I love that country that I have never seen.

My Rhead ancestors settled in the New England area, mostly New York and Pennsylvania.  They migrated west into Michigan and then Wisconsin.  By contrast, my Burton ancestors settled in the southern states such as Virginia and North Carolina and at least one family from Maryland.  They moved west into Kentucky and Indiana.  When I look at the history of the two families on paper, I am amazed that my parents ever met!  My father grew up in Wisconsin and my mother grew up in Kentucky.  I do believe that my 19th century ancestors would likely roll over in their graves at the thought of north meeting south and actually being amicable.  My mother has two letters that were written by Burtons' captured in the Civil War.  They both fought for the confederacy and were held prisoner in Illinois until the war ended.  My father's ancestors fought for the Union and although one was captured (Benjamin Lyons), he was released the next day.  I have often wondered how close my ancestors came to meeting each other on the battlefield.  When I get all the information compiled regarding Civil War records, I suppose I'll find out how close they came. 

Information contained on these pages has been compiled from many different sources - books, genealogy websites, personal correspondence, family members, etc.  Therefore, I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy with regard to family associations or dates.  Please keep this in mind as you study the information contained on this site.  If you know of a person who has been omitted from a particular family (or perhaps one is listed who doesn't belong in a family), please e-mail me and I will correct the mistake.

Please note that I'm not on the computer during the week, only on weekends.  For this reason, please be patient and give me a few days to respond to any e-mails you may send.

E-mail:  myroots@rhead-burtonconnections.com

Look-ups

I have the following books and would be more than happy to look up information for you.  E-mail me with your request and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  Note that I am usually on the computer only on weekends so please be patient and give me a few days to reply.

•     A History of the Doggett-Daggett Family in America

•     A History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts

•     Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory

•     Burton Chronicles of Colonial Virginia

•     Centennial History of Delaware County, New York: 1797-1897

•     Chapters in the History of Delaware County, New York

•     DAR Patriot Index

•     Genealogical History of the Carpenter Family

•     Genealogy of the John Pleasant Burton Family

•     History of Attleborough, Massachusetts

•     History of Daviess County, Kentucky

•     History of the Lamar or Lemar Family in America

•     History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana

•     Sheffield, Daggett and Allied Families

•     Tennessee Cousins: A History of Tennessee People

Navigation

Allin        Archer        Bassett        Buck        Burton

Carpenter        Daggett        Fuller        Goble        Gregory

Hamilton        Hamner        Hunter        Jewett        Lamar

Lanning        Lerch        Lyons        Mahan        Mayhew

McKinney        Nowell        Perkins        Rhead        Sassaman

Smock        Thomas        VanDerslice        Ward        Williams

Woodruff

Links        Search

Updated Pages

When pages are updated, the additions/changes will be printed in a red font.

June 15, 2008

- Rhead Ancestors

May 26, 2008

    - Buck Ancestors

    - Sassaman Ancestors  (photos added for Andreas Sassaman family)

May 18, 2008

    - Buck Ancestors

    - Carpenter Ancestors  (Christopher Carpenter, Generation 12 & 13)

Special Thanks

I want to thank the following people for contributing information and/or photographs for use on this website.

"A family tree can wither if nobody tends it's roots."

---Unknown

Visitors since April 8, 2007

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Carol Rhead Tessen

Created March 27, 2005

Material on this site may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided it is used for personal, non-commercial genealogical research and credit is given to the compiler.