NameJohn Burke 
Documentation
John Burke was mentioned in the 1780 will of his father-in-law Henry Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, pages 311–313.]
On 3 January 1786, a John Burke witnessed the will of Dolly Kerchevall of the Parish of South Farnham and County of Essex. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 14, pages 49–50.]
On 18 June 1811, a final decree in the cases of William Snodgrass vs. Henry Purkins’s exor and Purkins and other vs. Henry Purkins’s exor was handed down. The decree stated that William Snodgrass was to reimbursed £731 and other amounts plus interest, and that after his satisfaction, the plaintiffs Gabriel Purkins, John Purkins, Major Boughan who had intermarried with and survived Caty Purkins, Thomas Purkins, John Armstrong and Sally his wife, Philemon Purkins, Gideon Purkins, Young Dimake Purkins and Thomas L. Dunn and Cary his wife were to obtain satisfaction. The defendant in the case was William Purkins as administrator of the estate of Henry Purkins. That Mary “Polly” Purkins and John Burke are not listed suggests that they both may have died before 18 June 1811. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-G-40.]
On 2 May 1818, the Superior Court of the District of Fredericksburg heard the case of Gideon Purkins, Young D. Purkins, Henry Purkins, Fleming Ransome & Betsy his wife, John Burke & Mary his wife, Caty Boughan & Thomas Boughan infant children of Caty Boughan, who was Caty Purkins, by Purkins Armstrong their next friend, John Armstrong & Sally his wife, Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife, and William Purkins, plaintiffs, against Gabriel Purkins, defendant. “This cause came on to be heard on the bill, answer, exhibits and examinations of witnesses, and was argued by counsel: On consideration whereof since it appears to the Court that Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife, by their indenture dated the 12th day of April 1817, have conveyed all their interest in the land in the bill mentioned to Washington H. Purkins, and that Philemon Purkins conveyed his one sixth of the said land to the defendant, the Court doth adjudge, order and decree that the plaintiff Gideon Purkins do recover of the defendant 10/48 parts of the said tract of land, situated in the County of Essex, whereof Henry Purkins lately died seized; that the plaintiffs Caty Boughan and Thomas Boughan, in right of their mother Caty Boughan, deceased, do recover of the defendant for their joint use 2/48 parts of the said land; that the plaintiffs John Armstrong & Sally his wife, in right of the said Sally, do recover of the defendant 2/48 parts of the said land; that the plaintiffs Fleming Ransome and Betsy his wife & John Burke & Mary his wife, in right of the said Betsy & Mary respectively, and William Purkins & Henry Purkins, each do recover of the defendant 1/48 part of the said land. And the Court doth further adjudge, order and decree that Henry Thomas, William Latané, Edwin Upshaw and Robert Haile, or any two of them, do allot to the several plaintiffs aforesaid, their aforesaid shares respectively, according to value, and assign the same by metes and bounds, leaving for the defendant 18/48 parts of the said land, and for Washington H. Purkins 12/48 parts thereof, being the shares of Young D. Purkins & Cary Purkins. And the Court doth further adjudge, order and decree, that the defendant do render before one of the Commissioners of this Court an account of the rents and profits of the land aforesaid, from the time he came to the possession thereof, until the said allotment be made — and the said Commissioner is directed to State and settle an account between the defndant and the plaintiffs respectively, and to report the said accounts to the Court, with any special matter that he may thing pertinant or any party may require. And on motion of Washington H. Purkins it is ordered, that the Clerk of this Court do deliver to him the deed amongst the exhibits from Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife to the said Washington H. Purkins, bearing date the 3d day of April, 1818, the said Clerk retaining a copy thereof.” [Chancery Order Book 1814–1818, Superior Court, District of Fredericksburg, page 438.]