I'm a descendant of John Burnett (b. 1610) of Aberdeen, Scotland and his wife Lucretia. Both lived in Essex County, Virginia. Numerous people have said that my John Burnett is the same person as the John Burnett who was christened on 25 Dec 1610 in St. Nicholas Church, Aberdeen, Scotland (son of Thomas Burnett and Margaret Johnston).

I think that this is great, but how can we be sure that my John Burnett is the same John Burnett as the one who was christened on 25 Dec 1610?

There were other churches in the Aberdeen area that weren't even keeping records at this time. Even though Burnett isn't a common name in the U.S., it seems to be a not uncommon name in the Aberdeen area at that time. Also, the given names John and Thomas were pretty common in Scottish families. Additionally, Scottish naming practice would usually cause the oldest son to be named after the father. In Essex Coo., Virginia, my John Burnett's oldest son was named John (instead of Thomas). However, there was a son, Thomas who was younger than the oldest son, John. I realize that sometimes Scottish families would name the oldest son after the father of the mother and name the next oldest son after the father of the father.

Is it possible that my John Burnett (b. 1610) could have been a descendant of one of the Leys Burnetts of the 14th, 15th, or 16th centuries, and that he was baptized in a church in or near the Aberdeen area that wasn't keeping records at the time and that he later moved to Aberdeen and became a merchant there?

I have a first cousin that is only 11 months younger than I. We have the same last name, but different first names. How many John Burnetts can there be who were born in 1610 or 1611 and living in the Aberdeen area?

If anybody has any ideas on how we can be sure, or even just go with probability that John Burnett (b. 1610 and married to Lucretia) is the same John Burnett as the one christened on 25th December, 1610, I would be grateful for the enlightenment.

Fred O'Hair
fredohair2000@yahoo.com