The Estate of James M Lemmond

James McCullough Lemmond(s) was my 5th great grandfather. He was born around 1779 and is the son of Robert Lemmond and Elizabeth Jane McCullough.

I haven't found many records for James that document his life other than he is mentioned in his father's Will, along with brothers, William, John, Robert, Cyrus and Mars and sisters, Elizabeth, Nancy and Ann. There is a marriage record for him in Mecklenburg County, NC, where he and James Todd were bound for the sum of 500 pounds and he made application to marry Elizabeth Moore 26 March 1811.  And in 1820 I think he is enumerated with the middle initial 'P' next door to either his widowed mother-in-law Margaret Moore.

James most likely succumbed to an epidemic known as 'the fever' that started in Schuylkill River and spread across the nation sometime in early 1824 around the age of 45 and his wife died soon after in 1828 A child also died in this time frame but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I wanted to use the post to show you how Will's and Estate records can fill in the blanks and provide hints and sometimes confirm theories. But you have to read every little snippet and name that you can make out.

Let's start with the Will of James M. Lemmond.

In the name of God amen.  

                                     I James M Lemmond ? being in a declining state of health in body but of a sound disposing mind and memory do make and ordain and constitute this my last will and testament. 1st - I will that all my just debts be paid by my executor hereafter to be named. 2nd - I will and allow my beloved wife Elizabeth Lemmond to have my land where I now live for the purpose of raising my family and when the youngest comes of age then an equal division to be made amongst them.  I also allow her to have all my household furniture consisting of all my beds and one cupboard and stand of drawers and one table with all things belonging to the house for her use and the family. I also will that my wife shall have my black mare and I also allow her to have all my farming utensils for her own use and my familys. I also allow her to have all my stock of cattle for her use and my family's use. I also all her to have six yearlen hoggs for her use and familys. I also will that Rebecca Moore live in her house. 3 dly - I will that my smith tools be sold at publick sale with some turning tools to the highest bidder. 4th - I will that my clock with one rifle gun with pouch be sold. 5th - I will that my shot gun be sold and one grindstone and hangings be also sold with my saddle also. 6th - I will that one middle sized pot and one large dutch oven be sold. 7th - I will that all my barrels and some kegs be sold but one meat barrel and one meal barrel with one salt barrel to be for the use of my family. 8th - I will that my riding chair and one two gallon jug be sold. 9th - I will that my steele trap be sold with one trunk also. 10th - I will that a watch that was given to my son John Lemmond be sold and that money put out upon interest until he becomes of age. Lastly I do hereby ordain appoint and constitute Andrew Moore my executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills making and appointing this and this only as my last will and testament. Given under my  hand and seal this 24th day of January 1824.     Signed by James M. Lemmond and witnessed by Joseph Flinn and WMK Lemmond

 First thing we need to do is take note of the names and any relation given to us. We know his wife's name is Elizabeth. That corresponds with the marriage record. Then two individuals with the last name Moore (wife's maiden name) are mentioned, Rebecca and Andrew. Third is an individual with the same last name as James, WMK Lemmond. And lastly Joseph Flinn.

Luckily, I was working on Elizabeth Moore's line earlier this week and a few names are fresh on my mind. Joseph Flinn married Hannah Moore 19th of Oct 1812 in Mecklenburg County, NC. I believe Hannah to be a sister of Elizabeth. I suspect Rebecca and Andrew are also siblings. And WMK Lemmond is James' brother, William K Lemmond who married Betsey Todd. (Remember James Todd was a bondsmen to James and Elizabeth's marriage - note - look for connection).

Next thing to notice is that James and Elizabeth have a son named John who is NOT of age, meaning he is not 21 as of 1824 and that there's possibly others that are young as well as he mentioned that the property would be divided once the youngest child comes of age.

Now for the daunting task of going through his Estate with a fine tooth comb. His estate is made of a file with lots of scrap pieces of paper as well as a few ledgers.

• The first piece is a receipt dated May 23 1829 and it says $6.38 was paid in full by Andrew Moore the executor to Dan Alexander
• The second is a receipt for the tuition of the children of Betsy Lemmond dated 10 Nov 1828. Names mentioned: Dan Alexander and Mary V. Towle
  
• Next is a ledger receipt from Josiah Montgomery against the Estate of Elizabeth Lemmonds 6 March 1828 and on the bottom for Andrew Moore paid in full dated Feb 1829
• Next is a continuing ledger from Josiah - many things are hard to make out but it would appear he was a blacksmith. I can make out that he made shoes, welded shoes, mended a saddle..... mending a wheel....sharpening a shovel. 
• Next is a ledger that mentions James P. Henderson as the guardian for 'said heirs' though so far it doesn't say who those heirs are.... also mentioned are notes for John Howel(?) and Milley Tarlton(?) other names mentioned on this ledger are Wm Lukey, John Sloan, Levy Parker, Dan Alexander is the JP as well as an Abner Hunter? (last name illegible) 
• Next couple pages tell us they were still dealing with his estate in 1831 & 1832 and James P Henderson is still mentioned as a guardian.  
• Another ledger mentions the names John Sloan (sherrif?) Isaac Alexander (clerk) Jos Walker and wife, John Irwin (muslin for burial), Cooper & MGin, Wm Smith, David Parks, John MGins (for schooling), Prichard & Neckley (making coffin) another receipt says Prichard & Nichols, Andrew McNeely, Alenson Alexander (lease of horse), Alexander Robinson (for a bushel of corn), Josiah Montgomery, Margaret Ripley (another says Riley - for the clearing of fence by S M Riley and one iron bound cage), John Irwin (funeral Articles), James Asbury, Calvin G. Alexander (schooling), John Sloan (tax), William K Lemmond (schooling), Thomas Hunter, John A. Howel (pull and hull corn), Joseph R. Sample (pull and hull corn), 
• Next is a ledger against the Estate of Mrs. Lemmond, James widow: most likely from the mercantile ran by William Smith. Items purchased are silk, calico, sugar & coffee, ribbon, Moroco hat, book muslin, quart of wine ....
• A receipt for Elizabeth's coffin dated Feb 24, 1829
  
  
  

• Receipt for promising to pay Andrew McNeely also named John F McNeely signed Betsy Lemond
• Next up is a receipt for the schooling of my 4th great grandmother Margaret Adaline Lemmond. 
  

• Next is a receipt for cambric muslin for the burial of an unnamed child of James and Elizabeth
  

• March of 1824 a receipt promising to pay Andrew Moore $16.66 signed by Betsy Lemmond and Joseph Flinn
• A March 1827 ledger from Thomas Hunter for purchases made... pound of tobacco, bushel of salt, sugar and coffee, quart of whiskey, one and a half bushels of oats, more tobacco, 
• Next a receipt that tells us that James P Henderson is guardian of five children. 
  

• There's a receipt dated 30 Jan 1830 for $7.50 paid to John Howel for covering a shed and clearing land belonging to the heirs of James M. Lemmond.
• Next is an inventory of items belonging to James M. Lemmond and what they brought at auction. 
• There is a receipt dated 7 Jan 1824 signed my James M. Lemmond to Andrew McNeely. 
• Next is a receipt with several dates; 13 March 1828, 31 March 1824, 25 Oct 1827, dealing with Andrew Moore executor of James Lemmond. This tells me that James died before 31 March 1824 if Andrew as already dealing with his debts.
• Next is another receipt signed by the widow Betsy Lemond to her brother Andrew for the same date as above, 31 March 1924
  

• There's a receipt for $1.26 for beef supplied to the family by Allen Baldwin. 
• Dated 16 Sept 1824 a receipt for $.80 for schooling signed by James Parham. 
• Dated 18 Nov 1825 a receipt for $7.59 for family expenses of Elizabeth Lemmond, widow... signed by Joseph Flinn
• Next is a ledger from William Smith, the earliest date is 1819 and ends 1823. Items purchased: Wash bowl, white flannel, allspice, cheese, rum, postage for pamphlet, sugar & coffee, calico, shawl, more sugar and coffee, and a quart of wine, and dated 1824 it says sugar for widow. I'm attaching an AD from The Charlotte Journal from 1831, that I believe speaks of this same William Smith: 
  

• Next is a receipt dated May 1824 to William Cromwell for making coffin.
  
    

• Next is a receipt dated 29 June 1821 while James was still living, promising to pay $15 by 1 Jan 1822, I'm including it because of his signature.
  
   
• Next is a paper dated Feb 1832 and mentions former guardian James Henderson resigned and  Joseph Walker is appointed. *Note* Joseph Walker married Jane Lemmond 28 May 1831 in Mecklenburg County, NC.
• Next is another paper dated  27 Feb 1832 where Joseph is specifically appointed guardian of Joseph M. Lemmond, orphan of Joseph M. Lemmon.
• Next is a paper exactly like the previous dated 27 Feb 1832 except it pertains to my branch. Thomas Rutherford is appointed guardian specifically of  Robert and John Lemmond. *Note* Thomas Rutherford married Margaret A. Lemmond that very same day in Mecklenburg County, NC
• Obviously you can see these papers are not in chronological order because the next one is the guardianship papers of James P Henderson being appointed guardian of all 5 children Adaline, Jane, Robert, John and James dated 29 Feb 1828 (We were told earlier that there were 5 Lemmond children - We finally have them named. Margaret Adeline, Jane, Robert, John and James ) 

• After this is another guardianship paper dated 24 Feb 1824 and a Robert Lemmond (a brother to James M. Lemmond Sr) is appointed guardian of John Lemmond. And that's the last paper in the file. I didn't include every single paper, only the one's that I felt held any pertinent or interesting information. 

From the information provided I have been able to confirm hunches on Elizabeth's family and piece together the siblings of my ancestor Margaret Adaline. I discovered that she and her sister were living with their spouses in Union County, GA by 1840 and then both families (Rutherfords and Walkers) migrated to Tippah County, Mississippi. These names would explain names you see in the children of Margaret Adaline Lemmond Rutherford: (1)William Williamson Rutherford (middle name comes from Thomas's mother's maiden name) (2) James McCullough Rutherford (middle name comes from James Lemmon's mother's maiden name) (3) Thomas Franklin Rutherford ... hmmm this is my ancestor. Who is he named after??? (4) Elizabeth Jane Rutherford (Elizabeth for Adaline and Thomas's mother and Jane for James Lemmond's mother and Adaline's sister)  (5) John Lemmond Rutherford (for his mother's maiden name) (6) Robert Walker Rutherford (for his Uncle who was married to Adeline's sister Jane) (7) David Flynn Rutherford (for James Flinn who was Margaret Adaline's uncle by marriage)

No to try to hunt down those pesky brothers. There's a John Lemmons married to a Nancy with 4 children living in Tippah County in 1850. I believe this to be brother John.. He ends up in Gonzales Texas. Robert can be found in 1841 in the Mississippi State census living in Tippah County but I never find him again and James Jr. can be found with wife Frances and three children living in Yalobusha County, Mississippi.... maybe... it could be a cousin with the same name as there is a grown 24 year old Cyrus Lemmond living there as well.

I hope I've left you understanding the benefits of wading through all the receipts and what can come of  trying to make out the terrible handwriting of the 19th century. I love being able to see exactly who handcrafted the coffins of my 5th great grandparents and how communities come together to care for the widows and orphans. I also love that I was able to find signatures for both of them and take note of the fact that they spelled their name L-E-M-O-N-D. The benefit of blogging this out is that I can come back later if I need to search through the various names mentioned throughout. I wish I could find more records on this family but for now I am satisfied at the progress I've made.

Until next time,
Becky