Let's see if we can solve this Burnett Puzzle
There are several theories out there about the parentage of Frederick Thomas Burnett (1770-1854).
In the book "This Was My Valley" by Frederick MacLeod Burnett, I have studied his references to relationships and have gleaned from it the following:
Marcus Lafayette "Fate" Burnett is his father.
Frederick "Fed" Burnett, Jr. is his grandfather.
Frederick Burnett, is his great-grandfather (1770-1854)
Frederick Burnett, Sr. is his great-great-grandfather
Philip Burnett is his great-great-great-grandfather.
He states his 2xgreat-grandfather was married to "Granny Else".If you look to June Bork, she has a Thomas Burnett married to (1) Margaret "Peggy" Warren Else/Elsey (a widow) (which would explain his reference to Granny Else) and (2) Elizabeth Littleberry.Thomas Weins (deceased) records their sons as Frederick (1770-1854; Littleberry (1775-1843 and Swan (1779-1837).Fred MacLeod Burnett lists the brothers as Frederick, Swan and David.AndHe states his 2xgreat-grandfather settled in the Swannanoa between 1762 and 1766.
He states Granny Else lived to be 95 years old and had Pennsylvania parents and a german bible.Margaret Null, the wife of Frederick 1770-1854 also had Pennsylvania parents of German heritage.
Then we have a letter from Joseph Jefferson Burnett to Dr. Swan Moses Burnett in 1866 regarding the family ancestry.Joseph writes That Thomas Burnett was born in 1755 (meaning he was 15 years old when Frederick 1770-1854 was born if he is Frederick 1770-1854's father.He writes that Thomas was married to Elizabeth Littleberry (no mention of Margaret Else/Elsey) and that they had two sons - Swan and Littleberry (no mention of Frederick 1770-1854).He claims Swan was born in 1779 and Littleberry was born in 1780 after his father's death.
Then we have a book by Ina Shope "A History of the Shope, Gregg and Burnett Families" in which she records Thomas Burnett married to Elizabeth Littleberry and they had four sons - Littleberry, Frederick (1770-1854), Swan and John.
Naming patterns during the 1700-1875 period are:
first son named after father's father
second son named after mother's father
third son named after father
fourth son named after father's eldest brother
Any assistance anyone can give to try to clear up this puzzle would be greatly appreciated.