Robert Peter Burke (1827-1901)

Robert Peter Burke was born on February 20, 1827, in Fauquier County, Virginia. He died in Roane County, West Virginia on February 16, 1901. He was the son of John Burke and Elizabeth Shaw and the grandson of William Burk and Susannah Sweeny. William Burk served in the Colonial Army during the American Revolution. Robert Peter's first wife, Sarah Florence Amiss (Amos), was born in Culpepper County, Virginia on December 12, 1827. She died in Roane County, WV on May 27, 1869, at the age of 42. R. P. and Sarah were married March 18, 1851 in Culpepper County and ten children were born to them. Two sons and one daughter died while quite young.

Other children were Lewis Hamilton Burke, born in 1853 at Culpepper, Virginia; and born in Roane County. WV were :
1856 - Lillie Adelaide Burke, who married Albert Jenkins Hall;
1859 - Louisa "Luly" Burke, who married William Kincaid;
1862 - Roberta Catherine "Bertie" Burke who married Gilbert Newton Hershman;
1864 - (Oct 07) - Jackie Burke, who died that same day;
1864 - James Broodes Burke, surviving twin of Jackie, who married America Bell Walker;
1865 - Elizabeth Rebecca Elton "Lizzie" Burke, who married Henry J. Dalton; and
1868 - William E. "Willie" Burke, who married first, Ida Santee and second, Elizabeth Lowe.

Lewis Hamilton Burke married Julia A. Riddle of Reedy, Roane County, February of 1880. He became a school teacher when young, but then left his wife and only child, Holly H. Burke, to go west and make his fortune. It was said of Lewis Hamilton Burke in History of Roane County, West Virginia "The blood of the cavalier surged swiftly and hotly through him." He was last heard from in 1889 and was believed to be in Texas at the time. His son, Holly H. Burke, married Ida Ball of Reedy on July 29, 1905.

Lillie Adelaide Burke and Albert Jenkins "Jenk" Hall settled on Johnson Creek in Roane County. James B. Burke and three of his children died in the typhoid epidemic of 1903-05.

In 1861, Robert Peter Burke purchased a lot on the northwest corner of Market and Beauty Streets in Spencer and erected a home there. He remained there a number of years. He was much needed in the community at the time, as he was a master carpenter and there were many demands for his talents. He was also a devout Baptist, having been made a deacon in the church at the early age of 22, and was for many years involved in Sunday School work.

When Sarah Florence Burke died in 1869, Robert Peter returned to Culpepper County, Virginia, and married Elton Rebecca Amiss (Amos), younger sister of Sarah F., and brought her back to Roane County. R. P. and Elton had two children; Mary, who died at age 6, and Lemuel Judson Burke, who married Rosa F. Parsons. Lemuel and Rosa lived in Spencer for many years where Lemuel operated a feed-seed and general mercantile store in partnership with A. B. Jordan.

Later, Robert Peter purchased a farm on Charles Fork of Spring Creek and lived there the remainder of his life. He was one of the founders of Rush Creek Baptist Church located at the village of Rushville, Smithfield District, Roane County. Along with D. L. Kincaid and John Sinnett, he purchased the land for the church on September 12, 1885 for $25.00. The first members of the church were the Trout's, Sinnett's, Lowe's, Kincaid's, Burke's, Hall's, Taylor's, Faulkner's, Ferrell's and Dye's. All material for building the church was furnished by members. Logs were floated to Walton Mill pond for sawing and hauled back to the church by ox teams. Cost of construction was $125.00. The first pastor was Reverend Jonathan Smith.

In his History of Roane County West Virginia, William H. Bishop Esq. writes "Later, Robert Peter purchased a farm far up on the Charles Fork of Spring Creek, mostly still in the virgin forest, and there with his family made his abode for the remainder of his lifetime. He went out from here on his missions of Sabbath School and church work to which he was so greatly devoted." And in a biographical sketch of Robert Peter Burke, written upon his death in 1901, J. N. Fox says "He was his pastor's right hand man and always had a word of encouragement for the young ... In his death the church and pastor have sustained a great loss. Bro. Burke was only sick one week, but his sufferings were great. He had an attack of grip which developed into pneumonia with typhoid tendency. When it was seen that the end was near he sat up in bed and gave directions while Rev. Jon. Smith wrote his will, then grew rapidly worse and in about three hours his spirit departed to be with Christ. His last words were "Blessed Jesus".


Submitter: Larry R. Hall
Grandson of Lewis Linwood Hall -
Great-grandson of Albert Jenkins Hall and Lillie Adelaide Burke -
Great-great grandson of Robert Peter Burke and Sarah Florence Amiss.