My name is Travis Davis and Elijah Burt is my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather on my Father's side. I started tracing my family tree about ten years ago and have done alot of research on the Burt Family. My Grandfather, Jason Davis, (Elijah's Great-Grandson), lived to be 95. He passed away last Oct 28. I talked to Grandpa many times about Elijah Burt and he always said his name was Elijah and the Family called him "Lige". Also his son, George W. Burt, named his oldest son Elijah so it figures he named him after his Father. Another case in point is- Elijah's wife, Caroline Whiddon, was married to Ransom Fillingame before Elijah. Ransom was killed in the war and Elijah helped raise her two boys, John and Moses Fillingame. John Fillingame named his youngest son "Elijah Burt Fillingame". Every census and war record I have ever seen always name him as "Elijah". I have a picture of his gravestone taken by Gene Phillips and though it is scuffed and faded, it sure looks like Elijah to me. Look him up on findagrave.com and judge for yourself. Also Elijah is buried in the Bay Creek Cemetery in Purvis, MS not the Burt graveyard in Columbia. His Mother and Father and other relatives are buried there.
I am very grateful and exicited by you honoring him, but I want to make sure you have the right Elijah Burt who fought for the 7th MS in the Civil War. I wish I could be there but will be in Florida on business at that time.
I would love to hear from any relatives or friends on this subject. My email is travis_davis@hotmail.com.
Regards, Travis Davis