Hi, I'm new to this site but not new to researching family ancestors, although I do not do it all the time, just off and on since the 1980's. My brick wall is GG Grandfather Elias Elza Burris born about 1821 that married Charlotte (Lottie) Sherrod in 1845 in Knox County, TN and had 4 children before he died at age 39, in 1851. Looks like he just sort of appeared in the neighborhood and married Charlotte as we don't seem to find anything on him, or this surname Burris, Burrows, Buroughs, etc. , prior to the marriage. Charlotte however has a long line of family in the area of Strawberry Plains, TN where they lived. We think that his mother's maiden name might have been ELZA since this name pops up as a second name for the second son, William Elza. The four children are: John Henry; Margaret: (my G Grandmother) Mary Ann; and William Elza. Charlotte quickly remarried and had more children.
