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Through several spelling errors over the generations, the name Burckhardt
got changed to Burkett.
This lineage originated from Germany (Holy Roman Empire) and arrived
in Philadelphia, PA in 1742, on a ship named "Friendship" (no joke)., and
dispersed to Virginia and Texas initially. They were of noble blood in Germany,
and some belonged to the clergy, but they couldn't stay, because of all of the religious infighting,
and possibly some religious persecution that was happening in the Palatinate..
They were able to afford their own passage to Pennsylvania, so they didn't have to endure
indentured servitude, they designated as "freemen"..
Some of them fought in the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War,
and every war after that. The Burckhardt/Burkett diaspora is a global phenomena,
but hardly anyone knows that outside of the family.