DNA, Discovery, and the Elusive Burns Lineage
One of the last conversations I had with our Tribal Historian (my mother and recognizing her role as the family historian) involved a very special person who was OK with taking one of these AncestryDNA tests. Why is this person, special? They're are as close to Mr. James Lee Burns (who I like to refer to as our Tribal Chief) and the former Ms. Emma Lee Hunter as we're going to get.Out of respect for their privacy, I’ll keep their identity confidential unless they give explicit permission to share. Some DNA matches may already know who they are.
Building Connections Through DNA
Exploring our family’s genetic history has been thrilling, especially for the Burns lineage. I’ve connected with descendants of James Lee Burns’ brother and sisters (my great-uncle and aunts), who have helped shape my family tree while I’ve shared insights for theirs. These collaborations have uncovered new stories and leads about our Burns ancestors.
Have Burns DNA matches in your tree? Reach out to compare notes!
A Future Hunter Family Page
While this post focuses on the Burns lineage, DNA results have also revealed a vast Hunter family tree tied to Emma Lee Hunter Burns. Stay tuned for a dedicated Hunter Family Page on this blog, where I’ll dive deeper into that lineage.Teaser: there’s a strong chance some of our European ancestors arrived on the Mayflower!
The Challenge of the Burns Line
Tracing the Burns and Andrews surnames through DNA has been challenging. Most paternal matches (tied to James Lee Burns) connect directly to my tree, with few revealing new extended family. The puzzle of our Burns roots remains, but each clue brings us closer. Interestingly, the Hunter surname appears in both maternal (related to the former Emma Lee Hunter) and paternal lines, hinting at possible double cousins (when two siblings from one family marry two siblings from another) or other family connections. The exact links remains unclear, but it’s a fascinating puzzle.One Lead: Rose Smith of Arkansas
One promising clue comes from a DNA match shared by our Tribal Historian and our special person. The theory is that the late Rose Smith was related to James Lee Burns - but we lack records on her parents or deeper family connections. This lead is still under investigation.Burns Origins & the Mystery of Monroe County
Some DNA matches show a Burns family line out of Monroe County, Mississippi (located near the Mississippi/Alabama state line in the northeast corner of Mississippi, county seat Aberdeen, MISS) descended from Jesse James Burns. One branch of that line is now based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, I haven’t confirmed a solid link between our branch and theirs. None of the names I’ve mentioned to those matches seem to spark recognition on their end. |
| Monroe County, Mississippi |
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| 1910 U.S. Census, Monroe County, MISS |
There is also a connection to a Paralee Burns who was found living with her parents are a Irving & Harriet Burns in Madison County, MISS. And I was surprised to find that this county is adjacent to Hinds County, MISS as you will see below. You might see towns below that are key such as Learned or Adams, Madison County is just north of the state capitol in Jackson, MISS.
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| Madison County, Mississippi |
The Search for Willie (Steve) Burns
To recap, Willie Burns - the known father of James Lee Burns - may also be known as Steve Burns. I have not been able to verify the identity of Willie, but there is documentation of Steve or Stephen Burns through census records, marriage records, Social Security files or even death records. Beyond that little is known of grandpa Willie/Steve.I had found a “Stephen Burns” living in Adams County, Mississippi (Natchez, MISS is the county seat) in the 1870 census. It’s tempting to consider a connection, but I’ve found no DNA matches linked to that family - so this may be a dead end.
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| 1870 US Census, Adams County, Mississippi |
Final Thoughts: Wins & Unknowns
Though many questions remain, we’ve also had meaningful confirmations. This special person's DNA test helped validate connections to known siblings of our Tribal Chief:- Bessie Lewis Butler
- James Etta (Jeanette) Smith Brown
- Arthur Burns
- Emma Burns Roscoe Warren
Faces of Our Burns Ancestors
Below are photos from Ancestry.com of those distant Burns relatives with whom DNA matches have been established.
Jesse James Burns, linked to our Burns line in Monroe County, Mississippi
Reuben Burns, son of Jesse James Burns born in Amory, Monroe County, Mississippi
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Paralee Burns, a lead from Madison County, Mississippi
Stay Connected
If you’re a family member or researcher and want to collaborate, I’d be more than happy to connect. Whether it’s to exchange trees, share photos, or just say hello—you can reach me below..png) |
| Click to send e-mail |
FOOTNOTE: This post was written with the assistance of AI tools to refine clarity and structure, but all research, insights, and personal narratives are my own.