Person Page - 415

     Arthur T. Finklea was born on 16 Mar 1896 in FL.^1,2 He was the son of Andrew Thomas Finklea and Alice Lenora Burns. Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1900 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.² Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1910 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.³

The first draft registration for World War I was for men born between June 5, 1886 and June 5, 1896. Arthur T. Finklea filled out a draft card on 8 Jun 1917 in Quincy, Gadsden Co., FL. He was of medium height, of slender build, with brown eyes and sandy hair. He was employed in farming for H. B. Walsh and living in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL
.⁴ He was enumerated in the census of 1920 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.⁵

Arthur T. Finklea married Eunice Sparks on 7 Feb 1924 in Tallahassee, Leon Co., FL.⁶ Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1930 in Aucilla, Jefferson Co., FL, with others in the household: Eunice Sparks.⁷

Circa 21 Aug 1930, Arthur T. Finklea and Eunice Finklea visited in Concord and were accompanied home by Arthur's mother and sister, Alice Lenora Burns (Concord, Gadsden Co., FL.)⁸

Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1935 in Aucilla, Jefferson Co., FL, with others in the household: Eunice Sparks.⁹ Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1940 in Aucilla, Jefferson Co., FL, with others in the household: Eunice Sparks.¹⁰ Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1945 in Aucilla, Jefferson Co., FL, with others in the household: Eunice Sparks.¹¹

Arthur T. Finklea was widowed on 12 Aug 1948.¹

Arthur T. Finklea married Ernie Pauline Long between 1948 and 1950.^12,11,13 Arthur T. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1950 in Jefferson Co., FL, with others in the household: Ernie Pauline Long.¹³

Arthur T. Finklea was widowed on 21 Oct 1974.^14,1

Arthur T. Finklea died on 29 Apr 1981 at age 85.¹ He was buried on 1 May 1981 in Elizabeth Cemetery, Aucilla, Jefferson Co., FL.^1,15

     John L. Finklea was born on 26 Aug 1898 in FL.^1,2 He was the son of Andrew Thomas Finklea and Alice Lenora Burns. John L. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1900 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.² John L. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1910 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.³ John L. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1935 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.⁴ John L. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1940 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Alice Lenora Burns.⁵

John L. Finklea served on 24 Sep 1942 from Camp Blanding, Clay Co., FL, where he enlisted in the U. S. Army.⁶ He was enumerated in the census of 1945 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Alice Lenora Burns.⁷ John L. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1950 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Alice Lenora Burns.⁸

John L. Finklea died on 28 Jan 1964 in Gadsden Co., FL, at age 65.^9,10,1,11 He was buried in Vickers Cemetery, Concord, Gadsden Co., FL.¹

     Daniel J. Finklea was born on 1 Nov 1903 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL.^1,2 He was the son of Andrew Thomas Finklea and Alice Lenora Burns. Daniel J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1910 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew Thomas Finklea.² Daniel J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1920 in Havana, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of unresearched people.³

Daniel J. Finklea and Gladys Lewis obtained a marriage license on 5 Dec 1931 in Gadsden Co., FL.⁴

Daniel J. Finklea married Gladys Lewis on 6 Dec 1931 in Bainbridge, Decatur Co., GA.⁴ Daniel J. Finklea and Gladys Lewis were divorced in 1934 in Gadsden Co., FL.⁵

Daniel J. Finklea was living in Pittsburgh, Alegheny Co., PA, on 1 Apr 1935, according to his 1940 census record.⁶

Daniel applied for a passport 30 Apr 1937, while residing in Houston, Harris Co., TX. This document served as a seamen's passport. His last ship was the Plow City, 4 Apr 1937. (Note: On 22 May 1942, this civilian cargo ship was blown up by a German U-Boat.)⁷ He was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1940 in Quincy, Gadsden Co., FL.⁶

This group of draft registrations for World War II was for men born between 17 Feb 1897 and 31 Dec 1921. Daniel J. Finklea filled out a draft card on 14 Feb 1942 in Jacksonville, Duval Co., FL. He was 5'8" tall, weighed 168, with brown eyes, brown hair, and ruddy complexion. He was unemployed. Alfred Pasco Walsh was listed on his WWII draft card as the person who would always know his address.¹ In 1950 in Bronx, Bronx Co., NY, there is a census record for a Dan Finklea. The age, birthplace, and marital status (divorced) match, and Daniel's brother, John's, obituary says Daniel is in New York. I found no newspaper articles related to this.⁸

Daniel J. Finklea was living in New York, New York Co., NY, on 1 Feb 1964. His residence is mentioned in his brother, John Lee's, obituary.⁹

     William L. Finklea was born in 1905.¹ He was the son of Andrew Thomas Finklea and Alice Lenora Burns.

William L. Finklea died in May 1907.¹ He was buried in Thompson/Burns Cemetery, Concord, Gadsden Co., FL.¹

     1. Who was the father of John H. Burns (1818-1864)?

There was a John Burns living in Decatur Co., GA in 1840. He was 60-70 years old and had a male 15-20 years old in his household. John H. Burns was probably in Decatur Co. in 1840, as he married there in 1845. He would have been about 22 in 1840, fairly close to the census age. Also, John Burns was living about 12 residences away from Barna Tucker (in 1840), most likely the father of Anne Tucker, John H.'s future wife.


The only other Burns' in Decatur Co. in 1840 was a Jonah Burns, aged 40-50, but his oldest male in the household was 10-15. There was a William Burnes in Gadsden Co., FL, but he was 20-30 and he had no male children. The Burns' who had land records in Florida were all too young to be the father of John H. Burns. (All were searched using alternate spellings, Burn(e)s, Byrn(e)s.) Of course, there is the possibility that the father did not migrate from John H.'s birthplace, but I don't have his birthplace. The 1860 census says that both he and Anne were born in SC, but that is not likely. All later census records for Anne (1870, 1880, 1885) say she was born in NC, and if she is the daughter of Barna Tucker, that would be the case.


The Jonah Burns, above, was found in Decatur Co. in 1840, in Leon Co. in 1830, and Screven Co. in 1820. A John Burns was found in these same counties in the same census years. Jonah Burns is the documeted son of Thomas Burns. However, no further documentation has been found yet for the John Burns living in Screven Co. and no proof that he is the same John Burns of Decatur and Leon counties.


2. Who was the father of Anne Tucker, wife of John H. Burns?

My premise is that Anne and John Tucker were siblings and that they were the children of Barna Tucker. Barna Tucker lived in Nash Co., NC, in 1819. Sometime after 21 Jul 1819 (when he received a power of attorney from Peter Vanlandingham) and before 23 Jan 1823 (when his daughter, Mourning, married), the family moved to Wilkinson Co., GA. In a letter Barna Tucker wrote in 1825 from Wilkinson Co., GA, to Nelson Bone in Nash Co., NC, Barna writes "John has been very sick". If this is John Tucker, then he would have been about 15 years old, and Anne would have been about 9.


By 6 Sep 1830 the family was in Decatur Co., GA, where they were enumerated in the 1830 and 1840 censuses. In 1830, John Tucker would be 20 and Anne Tucker would be 14. In 1840, Anne would be 24, and not yet married; John (Tucker) would be 30, and possibly still living with Barna. John was married in Leon Co., FL, in 1842.


Anne Tucker married John H. Burns in Decatur Co., GA, in 1845 and their marriage was officiated by John Tucker, JP. John H. was awarded bounty land in Gadsden Co. in 1852 and 1860 for his service in the Second Florida War. This land was about 4 or 5 miles from where Barna Tucker 'of Decatur Co., GA' had bought three plots of land in Gadsden Co., FL, in 1843. John Tucker bought 4 plots of land in Gadsden Co. in 1852 and 1853, which was about 5 miles from John H. and about 1/4 mile from Barna's land. In addition, the documented daughter of Barna Tucker, Mourning Tucker, was married to George W. Kemp, who bought land adjacent to Barna Tucker and John Tucker (between them) in 1844, 1850, and 1852. Mourning Tucker was named after Barna Tucker's wife's (Nancy Ballard) sister.


In 1860, John H. Burns and Anne Tucker were in Gadsden Co., FL, and Anne was there in 1870-1885, after the death of John H.


The weakest link in this chain is between Anne Tucker and Barna Tucker. The most likely fathers of John H. and Anne are John Burns and Barna Tucker, living near each other in 1840 in Decatur Co., GA. There were no other Tuckers in Georgia or Florida who could have been the father of Anne. Tracing Barna Tucker led to Peter Vanlandingham in Wilkinson Co., GA, and then to Nelson Bone in Nash Co., NC, then to Edward Ballard. Peter and Nelson turned out to be Barna's brothers-in-law, and Edward was their father-in-law.


3.Who were the wife and children of Barna Tucker?

Barna Tucker witnessed a will for William Lindsey in Nash Co., NC, along with Nelson Bone, in 1817. He also witnessed a will in Wilkinson Co., GA, along with Peter Vanlandingham, in 1830. To show that this is the same Barna Tucker, there is the will of Edward Ballard, where he names his wife, Ann, and four daughters, along with their married names - Nancy Tucker, Martha "Polly" Vanlandingham, Mourning Bone, and Charity Lindsey. Nelson Bone is the executor of Edward's will. So the probability is that Peter Vanlandingham, Nelson Bone, and William Lindsey are his brothers-in-law and that Nancy Ballard is Barna's wife; plus they had a marriage bond in1805.


4. Who were the parents of Barna Tucker?

Benjamin Tucker wrote a will in 1829, in Nash Co., NC, naming his wife, Amey, and a son, Barnabas. This is the only Tucker will containing a name like Barna (Barnabas, Barnaby, Barney).


5. Descendant naming patterns:

o Barna Tucker and Nancy Ballard named a daughter Mourning. One of Nancy’s sisters was named Mourning.

o Barna Tucker and Nancy Ballard named a daughter Anne. Nancy’s mother was named Ann.

o John H. Burns and Anne Tucker named a daughter, Nancy. Anne’s mother was named Nancy.

o John H. Burns and Anne Tucker had a son, Emmet, who named a son John Barnabas.

o John Tucker and Lydia Young named a son John Barney, who named a son Barney.

o Mourning Tucker and George W. Kemp named a son Benjamin. Her grandfather was named Benjamin.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}


The following people are mentioned in this Burns Family story: John H. Burns, Benjamin Tucker, Amey <...>, Barna Tucker, Mourning Tucker, Anne Tucker, John Tucker, Edward Ballard, Ann <...>, Nancy Ballard, Peter Vanlandingham, Martha Ballard, Nelson Bone, Mourning Ballard, William Lindsey, Charity Ballard and George W. Kemp.

     Andrew J. Finklea was born circa 1833 in GA.¹ He was the son of George W. Finklea and Chloe <...>. Andrew J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1850 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of George W. Finklea.²

Andrew J. Finklea married Martha J. Godwin, daughter of Sarah <...>, on 4 May 1854 in Decatur Co., GA.^3,4

Andrew J. Finklea and Martha J. moved to FL in Dec 1854.⁵

Andrew J. Finklea posted bond when Abner Chester became administrator of George W. Finklea's estate on 6 Apr 1857 in Gadsden Co., FL.⁶ Andrew J. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1860 in Gadsden Co., FL, with others in the household: Martha J. Godwin, Malissa Lugenia Finklea, George B. Finklea and Sarah <...>.⁷

Andrew J. Finklea served from 1862 to 1863 from FL in the CSA, Company D, 2nd (Col. G. W. Scott's Battalion) Florida Cavalry. He contracted typhoid pneumonia in the winter of 1862/3 and suffered from it for many years.^5,8 He was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1870 in Gadsden Co., FL, with others in the household: Martha J. Godwin, Malissa Lugenia Finklea, Andrew Thomas Finklea, Martha J. Finklea, Louisa Finklea and Sarah <...>.¹ Andrew J. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1880 in Gadsden Co., FL, with others in the household: Martha J. Godwin, Malissa Lugenia Finklea, Andrew Thomas Finklea, Martha J. Finklea, Louisa Finklea, Ella Finklea and Maggie Finklea.⁹ Andrew J. Finklea was enumerated as Head of Household in the census of 1885 in Gadsden Co., FL, with others in the household: Martha J. Godwin, Andrew Thomas Finklea, Malissa Lugenia Finklea, Martha J. Finklea, Louisa Finklea, Maggie Finklea and Ella Finklea.¹⁰

Andrew J. Finklea died on 13 Mar 1896 in Gadsden Co., FL.⁵

Andrew J. Finklea is mentioned in the Gnann Family story.

     Martha J. Godwin was born on 4 Dec 1838 in GA.^1,2 She was the daughter of Sarah <...>. Martha J. Godwin was enumerated in the census of 1850 in Decatur Co., GA, in the household of unresearched people with others in the household: Sarah <...>.³

Martha J. Godwin married Andrew J. Finklea, son of George W. Finklea and Chloe <...>, on 4 May 1854 in Decatur Co., GA.^4,5

Martha J. Godwin and Andrew J. moved to FL in Dec 1854.¹ Martha J. Godwin was enumerated in the census of 1860 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁶ Martha J. Godwin was enumerated in the census of 1870 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁷ Martha J. Godwin was enumerated in the census of 1880 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁸ Martha J. Godwin was enumerated in the census of 1885 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁹ Martha J. Godwin received a widow's pension on 30 Sep 1899 for her husband's service in the in the CSA, Company D, 2nd (Col. G. W. Scott's Battalion) Florida Cavalry. She was living in Edwards, Gadsden Co., FL.¹

Martha J. Godwin died on 31 Oct 1907 at age 68.² She was buried in Siloam Cemetery, Quincy, Gadsden Co., FL.²

Martha J. Godwin is mentioned in the Gnann Family story.

     Malissa Lugenia Finklea was born on 15 Oct 1858 in FL.^1,2 She was the daughter of Andrew J. Finklea and Martha J. Godwin. Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1860 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.³ Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1870 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.² Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1880 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁴ Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1885 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁵

Malissa Lugenia Finklea married William Lafayette Vickers, son of Alfred Vickers and Matilda <...>, on 15 Sep 1886 in Gadsden Co., FL.⁶ Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1900 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of William Lafayette Vickers.⁷ Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1910 in Concord, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of William Lafayette Vickers.⁸ Malissa Lugenia Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1920 in Hinson, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of William Lafayette Vickers.⁹

Malissa Lugenia Finklea died on 16 Apr 1935 at age 76.¹ She was buried in Vickers Cemetery, Concord, Gadsden Co., FL.^10,1

     Martha J. Finklea was born in 1866 in FL.^1,2 She was the daughter of Andrew J. Finklea and Martha J. Godwin. Martha J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1870 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.² Martha J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1880 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.³ Martha J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1885 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.⁴

Martha J. Finklea married Henry R. Hall on 18 Jan 1888 in Gadsden Co., FL.⁵ Martha J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1900 in Quincy, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Henry R. Hall.⁶ Martha J. Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1910 in Gretna, Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Henry R. Hall.⁷

Martha J. Finklea and Henry R. moved to Jacksonville, Duval Co., FL, in 1922.⁸

Martha J. Finklea died circa 6 Dec 1952 in Duval Co., FL.^1,9 She was buried on 7 Dec 1952 in Vickers Cemetery, Concord, Gadsden Co., FL.¹

     Louisa Finklea was born circa 1867 in FL.¹ She was the daughter of Andrew J. Finklea and Martha J. Godwin. Louisa Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1870 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.¹ Louisa Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1880 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.² Louisa Finklea was enumerated in the census of 1885 in Gadsden Co., FL, in the household of Andrew J. Finklea.³