One of my brick walls has always been Mary C (Dunn) Callaway Williams, shown in the undated photo above with Bob Dunn, who
must be related in some way, but I don't know how. Mary was my paternal great-great grandmother.
Family lore had it that Mary was an Indian - at least that is what my grandmother, Louise Herrington Burris,
Mary's granddaughter - always told us. Grandma wasn't one to be making things up, and she spent quite a bit of time
in the company of her grandmother during her own childhood. Unfortunately, Grandma passed on, and none of her children,
including my dad, ever knew Mary.
The marriage record from Mary's first marriage to Allen Mason "Mace" Callaway sounded a little confusing. Apparently,
Mary was living with unrelated people in Clark County, Arkansas, when she married at 17, and they were the ones who
gave permission for her to marry. The marriage record says . . .her having no Father and the consent of her
mother made her home with another family. Either her father was dead, or she never knew him.
I was just sure her death certificate would give me the information I needed to find her parents. I ordered it and did
the little dance of impatience by the mailbox waiting for it to arrive.
The death certificate was no more enlightening than was the marriage record. One of her sons was the informant. He was
either dumb as a box of rocks, or thought he was protecting his mother's reputation.
Mother's name, including maiden name - don't know
Mother's birth place - don't know
Father's name - Mr. Dunn
For any of the many, many descendants of William Burris, who was born in the range of years from 1780-1785 in Virginia, who are still searching
diligently for his parents and siblings. . . .I don't think we are going to find them. Here's why.
A letter dated July 2, 1937 by William Andrew Burris (grandson of William Burris, son of James Littleton Burris) gives his
account of the history of his family. (Retrieved from Lawrence Co., TN archives, Burress/Burriss/Burris family folder.)
Settled in Pennsylvania. Scotch Irish. Sent to Virginia. My grandfather William Burris was a in-denture boy. There he lost
trace of his people. Was taken to Lawrenceburg Tenn. There he raised his family and died there.
Children all borned in Tenn. John Burris, Frank Burris, Jonathan Burris, Richard Burris, Carle Burris, James Burris and
Sinday Burris whom married a Mason. Nancy Burris whom married a Wiggs. They was another girl whose name I do not have.
Here's to brick walls in everyone's tree. Let's knock those suckers down.