Who is Isaac Burleson,
Sr. ?
by J.D. Burleson
Isaac Burleson was the founder of the line which resulted in most of the
Burlesons of Stanly County. We know the following about him. He served his
country in the American Revolution as a member of Captain Charles Polk’s
Company of the North Carolina Militia. Records proving his service are
contained in Record Group 93 (# 461) in the National Archives. Most of his
service was in the Cross Creek (Fayetteville) area of the state, helping put
down uprising Tory, or Loyalist, forces who continued to support King
George. In 1785, following the Revolutionary war, the United States awarded
ISAAC BURLESON, probably as a reward for his services at Cross Creek, 100
acres of land along the Yadkin River in Montgomery County.
It is believed that Isaac was born either in Lunenburg Co., Virginia or Cumberland Co., North Carolina around 1750. ISAAC’S name first appears on a tax list in Montgomery Co. (now Stanly) in 1782. In the 1790 Census, he is shown as a resident of Montgomery County, with a wife, Martha Clay and three children; Isaac Jr. age 10, Jonathan age 8, and Rachel (infant). Tradition says ISAAC’S wife, the former Martha Clay, was related to Henry Clay, the outspoken Kentucky senator.
Isaac and Martha went on to produce five more children; Jane, David, Joseph, an unknown child, and Thomas. Each of these children is another story in itself.
On Nov 5, 1794, Isaac Burleson recorded his purchase of 100 acres of land on Little Bear Creek about 300 yards below the mouth of Running Branch. This is according to Montgomery County land entries, file number 1033, grant book 94, page 80.
The 1800 Census shows ISAAC BURLESON to be a man more than 45 years of age, with his wife between 26 and 45, three male and five female children. A land grant to ISAAC BURLESON in November, 1815, file number 1870, grant book 125, page 386, mentions the property of ISAAC BURLESON dec’d as a line mark, so by this time ISAAC had died and his son was receiving the grant.