My great grandfather was John W. Burnette. He came to America as an 18 year old stowaway in 1870 on a ship from Germany. Any help in my research would be appreciated. 1.. John W. married Emily, an American, in 1870, the same year or so that he immigrated. Any knowledge of arranged marriages with Germans? 2.. By the time he was 27, John W. and Emily were living in Jones County. It was hundreds of miles inland and there were no other immigrants or citizens with the surname of Burnette in the area according to the census. Why there? Were Germans recruited to work on farms in Georgia after the Civil War? John W. Burnette Born November 16, 1852 and died February 28, 1916. 1880 Census - Jones County, Georgia, USA John W. Burnette Name spelled Burnett by census taker. Place of Birth - spelled Wurtenburg Both Parents' Place of Birth - spelling could be Rheni Farm Laborer His wife, Emily, born in Georgia, parents in North Carolina. Born April 9, 1850 and died December 20, 1911 1900 Census - Jones County, Georgia, USA John W. Burnette Born November, 1847 (different year of birth than 1880 Census) Married 31 years (1869?) Place of Birth - Prussia Both Parents' Place of Birth - Prussia Thanks Dennis Burnette