In July 1772, orator and oratrice Leonard Burnett and Amy his wife complained that “some considerable time ago your orator made his addresses by way of courtship to your oratrix and in order to induce your oratrix to intermarry with your orator his Father Joseph Burnett did expressly promise to give unto your orator among other things a Tract of Land…” which he received. In 1771 Joseph died intestate, and no deed had been issued for the land. Richard Burnett, Joseph’s eldest son, now claims the land. Filed July 1772. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-3.] Richard responded on 19 August 1793 by stating that the land in question had never been owned by his father Joseph Burnett. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-4.] On 27 April 1786, Thomas Lankford of King and Queen County gave a deposition in the case. That in 1767 or 1768, Joseph Burnett had told him that his son Leonard had married Ame Gatewood and that he had promised him six or seven Negroes. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-12.] On 12 May 1786, John Gatewood gave a deposition in this case. That as a marriage contract, Joseph Burnett had promised land to Leonard Burnett and as many negroes as Amey Gatewood had. About a year after their marriage Joseph had not given them any land, saying he had several pieces but all were too poor. He then bought 400 acres of Richard Hodges, whereon Leonard had been for 10 or 11 years. Taken at the home of Mrs Penelope Gatewood. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-16.] On 12 May 1786, Reuben Gatewood, aged about 49 years, gave a deposition taken at the home of Mrs Penelope Gatewood in Caroline County in this case. That Joseph Burnett had bought land of Hodges to give to Leonard and Amy. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-17.] On 12 May 1786, Penelope Gatewood gave a deposition in the case. That Leonard Burnett had been courting her daughter, now his present wife. That Leonard’s father, Joseph Burnett, had agreed to give land and slaves to Leonard. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-17.] On 12 May 1786, John Bowcock, aged 52 years, gave a deposition in this case. His deposition mentions that Amy Burnett was the daughter of James Gatewood. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-L-15.]

Amy Gatewood was mentioned in the will of her grandmother Amy Baker in 1744 as “my Grand Daughter Amy Gatewood ye Daughter of my son James Gatewood”. She received “one Negro Boy Named Bristol and a Negro Girl Named Frank Together with my Tract of Land Called north Hole…also a feather bed and furniture also one Cow and Calf one Iron pott and a Sow and Pigg”. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 7, pages 335–337.]

The will of Amy Burnett of the County of Essex was dated 22 March 1818. To daughter Amey Jones a negro woman named Cloa, and her six children, James, Oney, Henrietta, Isaac, Caroline and Brooas[?] and their increase. To granddaughter Amey Goodwin slaves Grace and all her children. Daughter Amey Jones to be executrix. Signed Amey her X mark Burnett. Witnesses: Ephraim Beazley Jr., Tho. Evans, John Jones. Proved on 21 September 1818. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, page 528.]

For general information about Amy Gatewood, see: Gothberg, Carol J., John and Amy Gatewood, and Their Descendants 1666–1986. Baltimore: Gateway Press Inc., 1987, pages 568 and 576.