Unusual Sources -- Westward Expansion

When it come to genealogy research I rarely leave home. Actually, I think I have researched exclusively online. What a great time to be a genealogist! Lately I have felt a little run dry though and decided to do a google search for unusual genealogy sources and came across this article from Family Tree Magazine.

I have also been struggling with some dystonia related issues that have kept me pretty sedentary. Honestly, dystonia, and dealing with a lot of down time, is what caused this genealogy habit to thrive. Anyway, yesterday, while delving into some of those websites I found several documents and articles on a few ancestors that I hadn't seen before. Today I am going to share two of those finds with you.

George Washington UPTAIN/UPTON is my 5th great grandfather. My line to him is Obie Zearl MELSON, his father, Benjamin Harrison MELSON, his father, Francis Marion MELSON, his mother, Ferbia Melita UPTAIN/UPTON then her father, the subject of this post.

If you head over to Digital Public Library of America and search for George Upton you will eventually come across these two documents, one of which includes his signature!

Affidavit of Georg Uptain (also George Upton) and Richard Ellison of Jackson County, Georgia, dated May 17, 1817. Uptain and Ellison testify that John Camp, also of Jackson County, is living with his family over the boundary line on lands near the Alcovy River, designated as Indian hunting grounds. They provide information regarding Camp's improvements on the land and indicate that he has lived there twelve months. The statement was sworn to before James Strawn, Justice of the Peace.

Affidavit of George Upton, Issac Awtrey, and Francis Ellison, dated May 17, 1817 in Jackson County, Georgia. The three men report that James Morris and his family are living across the boundary line near the Alcovy River on lands designated as Indian hunting grounds. They testify regarding his improvements on the land and state that he has lived there twelve months. The statement was sworn to before James Strawn, Justice of the Peace.

Census records place George UPTAIN in Walton County, Georgia in 1820. Walton is a neighboring county that was created from CREEK lands in 1818.

Until next time,
Becky

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 

John R. Garner, DNA, A Nephew And an Unkown Man

Sometime ago I wrote about my 3rd great grandfather, John Middleton Nall and in the process I was able to figure out who his wife's family was. I had been searching for years and the answer was right under my nose.

I'll give a brief  recap. John Middleton Nall married a Mary Jane Garner on 6 Aug 1857, in Rusk County. In John Middleton's civil war pension application it was signed by a J J Garner and T L Nix. J J Garner was John Josiah Garner b. 1836 in GA who married a Mary A Nix.  T L Nix was Mary A Nix's half-sibling Thomas Little Nix. b. 1842 in GA. After searching the 1850 census I was able found the John R. Garner family living in the next county over, Panola County. Head of household was Jno R. Garner b. 1818 GA, Elizabeth b. 1820 GA, Josiah b. 1837 GA, Mary b. 1840 GA, Ann b. 1842 AL, John b. 1846 TX and Wiley b. 1849 TX.

This is Mary Jane Garner/Nall's family. DNA verifies it. Most of her siblings are well documented but her parents are a different story. This blog post will be my attempt at piecing together the information I have in hopes of finding something new and also hoping other John R. Garner descendants will see it so that together we can find some answers. I had my Dad's DNA tested and its linked on Ancestry. He matches the descendants of several of Mary Jane's siblings. Specifically John Josiah, Ann Eliza, Andrew Jackson and Sophrona Catherine Garner.

Let me begin with the 1850 census. This tells me the approximate age and birthplace so that I can begin searching for an earlier census. Keeping in mind that all censuses earlier than 1850 only list the head of household and age ranges. If the oldest two children were born between 1836-1840 in GA that tells me that this family should be somewhere in the state of Georgia during the 1840 census. A quick search gives me a John R Garner family living in  District 788, Heard County, Georgia. There is one male child under the age of 5 - that will be Josiah, one male between the ages of 20-30 - that will be John R. , and one female in the same age range - that will be his wife Elizabeth. Also living in the same district and county is a William M. Garner.

Going off of Josiah's birth date (1818) we can assume that John and Elizabeth were married about 1835; give or take a few years. Heard County Georgia is right on the Georgia/Alabama line so both states should be searched. There are a few options but none that I'm certain are them. Quite a few online trees say that her maiden name was Rosser/Russer and there is a marriage record for a John Garner Jr. married 1839 in Henry County Georgia. I don't believe this to be them. First, the marriage is after the birth of Josiah and second, it seems that this marriage can be attributed to a John H. Garner who died in 1911 and is buried in Burnet, Texas. There is one marriage record that I think is worth looking into and that is of a J "G" Garner and an A E Harbin who were married 17 July 1832 in Hall County, Georgia. The only image of this record that I have found seems to have been hand transcribed much later in time. I wonder if the "G" could've been an "R". And Elizabeth's middle initial is given as A in at least one record. For now this piece of the puzzle will have to remain unsolved.

Sometime in the late 1840's John and his family migrated to Texas. He can be found in the Tax Rolls of Shelby County, TX, for the year 1846 as well as a William Garner. Are they brothers?  In the next county over in Panola you can find John's land record here. They even include his signature from 1851. He claimed 320 acres of land that was situated on the Irons Bayou, a tributary of the Sabine River, about 5 1/2 miles North of Carthage.




I was actually able to find a map that has his name showing exactly where his land was located.

In the above land record you will find that John dies not long after his claim on the land and it then becomes the property of his heirs.


In the Texas Probate Records, 1800-1990, of Panola County  you can find in Final Records Book C page 609 and Minutes Book B page 333 records pertaining to John R Garner's Estate. Two names will come up. Thomas J. Garner who is referred to as a nephew, and is applying to be the administrator of John's estate. and a John W (?) Williams that objects and wishes himself to be the administrator.

There is no Thomas J. Garner in any census records for Panola or surrounding counties in the years 1850 or 1860. So this leaves me searching elsewhere for his connection to John. After John R. Garner dies, his widow, Elizabeth, marries an Irishman by the name of Thomas Shannon in 1858. They have one son named John Thomas "Jack" Shannon. I find his name a bit odd considering he has a half sibling named John Thomas Garner, but maybe that's why he went by "Jack"? Elizabeth then marries another Irishman named Cornelius 'Neal' Logue in 1866. Now all of this was going on during the Civil War. So I turn to Fold3 to browse their records hoping for some clue that will help in my search. In the same unit as Neal Logue, the 28th Calvary Randal's Regiment, there is a service record for both a T J Garner and a T L Garner. No identifiable information is given.

Then there's Mr. John Williams. Before writing this post, I had only searched and found a match in census records. But now, after reading through John R. Garner's land records I found that John K(?) Williams  and Mills L. Higgins signed as witnesses, testifying that John had indeed lived and made improvements on his land for at least 3 years.

Is there a connection to John with these men other than grit and determination to settle a new land? Were they just neighbors?

Mills Higgins dies in 1860 from pneumonia. He was born about 1813 in KY and married Martha Helen Young in Marshall County AL.

John K Williams was born about 1823 in KY, serves in the CSA during the Civil War and dies in 1898

I  have great difficulty finding much for a John W Williams other than one tax record for the year 1846 in Panola County, Texas.

I've never been able to find any record for John's widow Elizabeth after her marriage to Neal Logue. She and her son "Jack" Shannon aren't listed in the 1870 census. If it is the same man, there is a Cornelius Logue enumerated in the neighboring county of Cherokee, but Elizabeth and Jack aren't with him. He is living with the Odum family.

At this point, I think I will try researching more on the nephew Thomas J Garner from the Estate records. He may be able to point me to his parents, which in turn may provide clues to John's earlier history.

Until next week,
Becky

Georgia's Land Lottery

Today's prompt hosted by Genealogy Girl is #land and has lead me to research more about Georgia's Land Lottery. I'm having great difficulty finding actual records. But I still wanted to write about at least two of my ancestors who were winners of the 1827 Land Lottery; William P Newell and Thomas J Nall - both on my paternal side. Their names are listed in the Reprint of official register of land lottery of Georgia, 1827  comp. by Martha Lou Houston; index prepared by Silas Emmett Lucas Jr.. (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1986). In fact, in my search for actual records for Thomas J. Nall in this lottery, lead me to an exchange between William P Newell and his brother-in-law, Clemmon Jones in some miscellaneous files from Troup County, GA,  and that in turn lead me to discover William had also won land in this lottery. I have written briefly about William P Newell here.

Georgia actually held eight land lotteries between the years 1805 - 1833. They each followed this pattern:

1. The General Assembly passed an act that authorized the lottery and spelled out who would be eligible to participate and the grant fees that would apply.
2. The land to be distributed was surveyed and laid out in districts and lots. The surveyors sent the district and lot numbers to the governor’s office.
3. Eligible citizens registered their names in their county of residence. The names were sent to the governor’s office at the state capital. Beginning with the second lottery the names were copied onto slips of paper called “tickets” and placed in a large drum called a “wheel.”
4. District and lot numbers were placed in a separate wheel. (At first, blank tickets were added to this wheel, so that the number of tickets would equal the number of persons drawing.)
5. Commissioners appointed by the governor drew a name ticket from one wheel and a district/lot ticket from the other wheel. If the district/lot ticket was blank, the person received nothing. If the ticket contained a district/lot number, the person received a prize of that parcel of land. A ticket that contained a number was called a “Fortunate Draw.” With later lotteries (after 1820), when blank tickets were not added to the prize wheel, individuals whose names remained in the second wheel were considered to have drawn blanks.
6. Anyone who received a Fortunate Draw could take out a grant for the lot he drew, after paying the grant fee. If he did not take out a grant, the lot reverted back to the state to be sold to the highest bidder.

The eight land lotteries were held on the following years:
1805 (first)
1807 (second)
1820 (third)
1821 (fourth)
1827 (fifth)
1832 (sixth)
1832 (seventh or gold lottery)
1833 (eighth)

My ancestors took part in the 1827 Land Lottery

Five Counties were created and 202.5 acre lots were surveyed off.

Counties
Carroll: 16 districts (1-16)
Coweta: 9 districts (1-9)
Lee: 13 districts (1-13)
Muscogee: 24 districts (1-24)
Troup: 12 districts (1-12)

William Paul Newell won twice, one in district 9 and the other in district 3 of Carroll County. And Thomas J. Nall won his lot in district 10 of Troup County. During the time of the drawing, according to the above reprint, William was living in Henry County and Thomas was living in Clark County.

Here is an 1830 map of Georgia so that you can see where they were during the drawing in comparison to where their winning draw was located.



Yet, in 1830 William was enumerated in Capt Britain C Tyars District, Troup, Georgia. Thomas was enumerated in Henry County, Georgia. By 1840 Thomas has migrated to Merriwether and William was living across the state line in Chambers County, AL. My Thomas eventually migrates all the way to Texas where later died, presumably in Rusk County. It sure makes me wonder why they didn't stay on the land they won. Did they ever make a homestead there? Did they sell it? Or abandon it?

Here is a bit of information about how a person was eligible to participate in the Georgia Land Lottery.

There was an $18.00 grant fee to participate in the drawing. As well as other regulations that had to be met. Each condition or regulation could entitle you to 1 or 2 draws.

In order to be entitled to draw a person had to be:

• Bachelor, 18 years or over, 3-year residence in Georgia, citizen of United States - 1 draw
• Married man with wife or son under 18 years or unmarried daughter, 3-year residence in Georgia, citizen of United States – 2 draws
• Widow, 3-year residence in Georgia – 1 draw
• Wife and/or child, 3-year residence in Georgia, husband and/or father absent from state for 3 years – 1 draw
• Family (one or two ) of orphans under 18 years whose father is dead, 3-year residence in state or since birth – 1 draw
• Family (three or more) of orphans under 18 years, 3-year residence in state or since birth – 2 draws
• Widow, husband killed in Revolutionary War, War of 1812, or Indian War, 3-year residence in Georgia – 2 draws
• Orphan, father killed in Revolutionary War, War of 1812 or Indian War - 2 draws
• Wounded or disabled veteran of War of 1812 or Indian War, unable to work - 2 draws
• Veteran of Revolutionary War – 2 draws
• Veteran of Revolutionary War who had been a fortunate drawer in any previous Lottery – 1 draw
• Child or children of convict, 3-year residence in Georgia – 1 draw
• Male idiots, lunatics or insane, deaf and dumb, or blind, over 10 years and under 18 years, 3-year residence in Georgia – 1 draw
• Female idiots, insane or lunatics, deaf and dumb, or blind, over 10 years, 3-year residence in Georgia – 1 draw
• Family (one or two) of illegitimates under 18 years, residence since birth in Georgia – 1 draw
• Family (three or more) of illegitimates under 18 years, residence since birth in Georgia – 2 draws
• Child or children of a convict whose father had not drawn in any of the former land lotteries – entitled to a draw or draws in the same manner they would be entitled if they were orphans

Reasons you were not eligible to draw:

• Any fortunate drawer in any previous Land Lottery.
• Citizens who volunteered or were legally drafted in the War of 1812 or the Indian War and who refused to serve a tour of duty in person or by substitute.
• Anyone who may have deserted from military service.
• Any tax defaulter or absconded for debt.
• Any convict in the penitentiary.

In my search for actual records, I ended up on the Georgia State Archives website. Due to funding, and resources they will not look up or mail you records, even for a fee. They do however provide of list of professional genealogist in their area who will do this for you. I contacted a Mr. Evans who did a fantastic job of provided me with copies of the surveys and grants for each of my ancestors. I will attach two of the six records in this post so you can see for yourself what they looked like, and the information they contained.

Sometimes, in doing research I end up with more questions than I do answers. Census records don't indicate that these two ancestors ever lived on the land they won. But that doesn't mean they didn't. I have read a book about a family I am connected to, not related to, that lived in Spadra Township, Johnson County, AR. They traveled to California and back between census years. If that book had not been published, I doubt anyone would have guessed at the amount of land they covered in a short 10 years.I hope this post encourages you to take a little time to research this part of American History.

Until next time,
Becky

To see all six records in PDF format click here.

Georgia, Surveyor General, Plats, Land Lottery, 1827, Book JJJJ, Troup County,  Districts 6‐11, GRG 2‐2252, Microfilm Drawer 51, Box 52, Georgia State Archives

Georgia, Surveyor General, Plats, Land Lottery, 1827, Book OOOO, Districts 2‐9,  GRG 2‐2254, Microfilm Drawer 51, Box 54, Georgia State Archives

Paper Trails

Just like with blogging, I've been pretty hit-and-miss with my participation in the Instagram genealogy photo challenges lately. But as long as I don't quit all together I think will forgive myself.

Today's prompt from Genealogy Girl Talks is headstone. And I wanted to do a short little post, mainly full of pictures to show you how I'm fortunate enough with this line to have a paper trail taking me back at least 8 generations.

Below is the headstone of my 4th great grandmother Margaret Catherine Newell. I love how her name is spelled on her headstone. She is buried in Rochester Cemetery, Haskell County, Texas.

 

Below is her death certificate which provides us with the names of her parents. In my experience it has been quite rare to have a death certificate from this time period where the name of both parents is known. The informant was her daughter, Emma Josephine Linville, the wife of Isaac Johnson Harcrow. I write about my Linville line here.


This death certificate tells us that Margaret was born in Chambers County, AL in 1831 to William P Newell and Priscilla Jones.

In Greene County, Georgia, there is a marriage record for a William Newell and Priscilla Jones. And you can find a census record for William P Newell living in Capt Britain C Tyars District, Troup, Georgia in 1830, and living in Chambers County by 1840.

William Newell was a pretty well known man, though many of the records that could prove this most likely burned in the Randolph County Courthouse fire of 1897. It is said he was the Sheriff of Randolph County in the 1840's and I have found a newspaper article stating he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1853.

Tuskegee Republican, 14 Jul 1853, Thu, Page 2

Taking us back one more generation are a few snippets of paper found from the Estate of one Zachariah Jones who died 1827 in Greene County, Georgia.

First the division of his land amongst his children:

This itemized record of items purchased from the Estate Sale of Zachariah Jones, purchased by Wm P Newell (notice the hand cuffs).




And this receipt:



I don't know who Priscilla's mother was at this point, though the Estate records mention a Margaret - not specifically as Zachariah's wife, but she isn't mentioned as a child either - and Priscilla did name her daughter Margaret Catherine. Catherine after William's mother. I am pretty happy to have documentation taking me back this far.

There's quite a bit more information I could add here and there, but one of the reasons I don't blog as often is because I find that I try to add too much detail and I get overwhelmed. I like the idea of trying to do short little posts here and there.

Until next time,
Becky

How Many Worley's Can There Be?

I've come across one of those ancestors; the one who you can't peg down when it comes to his beginning but a lot of assumptions can easily be made, and have been made, and some of those assumptions are just wrong--terribly terribly wrong, and you just want some facts, not assumptions.

In an attempt at understanding this ancestor a little better, I decided to blog about him, because I've found that blogging helps me to slow down and really look closely at all the information I have and sometimes things jump out that I haven't noticed before.

The ancestor I'm referring to is Worley D. Linville. Some have him as Worley Daniel Linville and others still as Worley Daniel Boone Linville. But all the records I have found only say Worley D. Linville.

The 1850 census is always a good starting point because it was the first census to name all the individuals in the household, as well as listing their ages and birth places.

In the 1850 Randolph County, Alabama, census we find Worley D Linville age 34 born in KY, Margaret C Linville age 19 born in GA, Elizabeth Linville age 67 born in NC and little Margaret E Linville age 1 born in AL.

From this census record I can glean that Worley's parents may be found somewhere in KY during the 1810-1820 census periods and that his mother is most likely the 67 year old Elizabeth Linville who is living with him. Margaret C is his wife Margaret Catherine Newell, her name later comes from her death certificate where her full name is given as Margret Catharine Linville and her parents names are William P. Newal and Pricilla Jones. I have yet to find a marriage record for Worley D and Margaret Catherine. The most likely reason is the fact that Randolph County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1897.

Continuing my search in Randolph County there is in the 1840 census a Worley Lindville listed as the head of household with the following living with him:

2 males age 20-29
2 males age 30-39
1 male aged 50-59 - too old to be my Worley D. Linville but maybe he was named after his father.
1 female age 10-14
1 female age 15-19
1 female age 20-29
1 female age 50-59 - IF this is Worley D's family most likely the Elizabeth from the 1850 census.

Often in my research I will use Google to search for my ancestors. There has been a lot of valuable 'feet on the ground' research done before so much was uploaded to the internet. And then that research has been shared later on. It may not be actual records but the research is definitely worth considering. When I did this I came across the following from USGENWEB:

Historical Records of Randolph County: Sep 16, 1846

Larmbird [Lambert] Linville administrator of the Estate of Worley Linville [SR] deceased, stated Worley died interstate and the land cannot be divided equally among his heirs and that Daniel and William Linville (both full age and reside in Kentucky) Elizabeth Jackson late Linville, Elender Cassels late Linville both full age residents of Georgia, Rebecca Phillips late Linville wife of Wilkins Phillips of full age and residing in Miss It is ordered that notice be issued to *Merriam Linville and Mark Cassels to appear in Court in October. Is the above mentioned Daniel my Worley D. Linville that some say is Worley Daniel Linville? If there was a courthouse fire in 1897 where did the above information come from? I've searched FamilySearch for probate/estate records for Randolph County and there are NONE, most likely because of the fire. Are the heirs listed all children?  Also of note, most online trees have the following two women listed as possibilities for Worley Sr.'s wife: 1) Rachel Pugh and 2) Elizabeth Jackson. 

From the above Estate I have concluded that Elizabeth Jackson is the married name of his daughter not his wife. She married William Jackson on 6 June 1841 in Carroll County, GA.  And the Worley Linville who married Rachel Pugh 23 March 1829 in Hardeman County, TN was alive and well in Tippah County, Mississippi for the 1850 census. Meaning there is another Worley Linville out there that is not my Worley Linville.  For the time being, my tree will have Worley Sr.'s wife listed as Elizabeth LNU  b. 1783 NC

Now going back to that 1840 Randolph Co. Census, keeping in mind that exact birthdates aren't very accurate using census records, and using it in conjunction with the Estate information I discovered this:

2 males age 20-29 - Worley D. & Lambert
2 males age 30-39 - William & ?
1 male aged 50-59 - Worley Sr.
1 female age 10-14 - Eleanor Ellender (married Mark Cassells brother Absalom)
1 female age 15-19 - Merriam (Martha)* (married to Mark Cassells)
1 female age 20-29 - Elizabeth (married William Jackson 1841) or Rebecca (married to W Phillips)
1 female age 50-59 - Elizabeth LNU


There is a William b 1809 KY living in Mercer Co. KY in 1850 (<-- William in such a common name I can't be certain this is indeed the William mentioned in the Estate), Lambert b. 1812 KY living in Randolph Co. AL in 1850, Rebecca Phillips b. 1813 KY married to William Wilkins Phillips living in Pontotoc Co. MS, Elizabeth Jackson b. 1814 KY married to William Jackson living in Heard Co., GA, Worley Daniel? Linville b. 1816 KY living in Randolph Co., AL and Eleanor Ellender Cassels b. 1823 KY married to Absalom Cassells living in Troup Co., GA.

All of the above children show the state of birth to be KY - this is what I have found for Worley Linville in census records in the state of KY. The names beside the age ranges are estimates and if any children are married but living in the household with Worley Sr they could be spouses of children.

1810, Rockcastle County, KY - Worldly Linville (Rockcastle County was formed in 1810)

3 males under 10 -
1 male age 26-44 - Worley Sr.
1 male 45+ - Worley's FIL?
1 female age 16-25 - Elizabeth LNU

*** In the 1810 census directly beneath Worldly Linville is the household of a William Linville and a William Linville Jr. - It would seem plausible and likely that Wm Sr. is Worley's father and Wm Jr. a brother. The census for William Sr. says he's 45+ in 1810.

1820, Rockcastle County, KY - Worley Linville

3 males under 10 - Worley D., Lambert, & ?
1 male age 10-15 - William ?
1 male age 26-44 - Worley Sr.
1 female age 26-45 - Elizabeth LNU

1830, Laurel County, KY - Wirley Linville

1 male age 10-14 - Worley D.
3 males age 20-29 - Lambert, William & ?
1 male age 50-59 - Worley Sr.
1 female under 5 - Ellender
2 female age 5-9 - Merriam & ?
1 female age 10-14 - Elizabeth
1 female age 15-19 - Rebecca
1 female age 50-59 - Elizabeth LNU

There is another record for Worley being in Laurel County KY other than the 1830 census.
In Deed Book G, pages 338-339, Laurel County, KY you can find the following:

"Know all men by these presents that I, Worley Linville, am held and firmly bound unto William Brown in the penal sum of two hundred dollars, well and truly to be paid as witnesses my hand, January the 14th, 1840.

"The bond is [unreadable two words] obligation is [unreadable word] as the said Worley Linville hath this day bargained and sold unto the said William Brown a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being on Rockcastle River on both sides, the beginning in Laurel County and state of Kentucky, containing fifty acres [unreadable word] by the name of the said Linville old river place for the consideration of one hundred dollars ninety four for being paid in have and the said Linville binds himself and his heirs to make the said Brown a special deed when the other six dollars is paid and binds himself for the purchase money back if the land is ever lost in testimony. I have hereunto set my hand and seal to wit this 14th day January 1840.

"Worley Linville

"I assign the within bond to John Decker, December the 5th 1841. Signed: Wm Brown, Attest: Thomas B. Nichols

"I assign the within bond to Thomas Brown, August the 27th day 1845. Signed: John H. Decker, Attest: William Reynolds

"The value received, I assign the within bond to Wm Brown, Aug 1st 1846. Signed: Thomas Brown

"For value received, I assign the within bond to Wm McQuary this 25 of Nov 1847. Signed: Wm Brown

"I assign the with bond to Wm Reynolds this 27 of January 1849. Signed: William McQuary

"I assign the with bond to David M. Minks and William A. Dire this 23rd day Oct 1850. Signed: William Reynolds

"For value received, I assign my interest of the within bond to Wm A. Dyer, Nov 23rd 1851. Signed: David M. Mink

"For value received, I assign the within bond to David M. Mink, January 1st 1858. Signed: John Roberts

"For value received, I assign the within bond to Andrew Decker, Feb 21st 1860. Signed: D.M. Mink, Attest: William McGraw

"This the 21st day of August 1868, I assign the within bond to James Smith of all my interest and [unreadable word] of me and my heirs with none back me or my heirs. Signed: A.M. Decker

"For value received, I assign the within bond to Isaac Mize this 26 day of August 1870. Signed: James Smith, Attest: James Cooper, Wm Lickliter

"State of Kentucky Laurel County, SS
"I, R.L. Ewell, clerk of the Laurel County Court do certify that the foregoing bond from Worley Linville to William Brown with the different assignments, last assignment of James Smith to Isaac Mize 26th Aug 1870, was produced to me in my office, signed for record. The same together with this certificate hat been duly admitted to records. Given under my hand this 8th day of June 1874, R.L. Ewell, clerk."

For now it is my opinion that Worley Daniel Linville is the son of Worley Linville Sr. and Elizabeth LNU and the grandson of the 1810 William Linville Sr. and wife unkown.

His siblings are William, Lambert, Rebecca Linville Phillips, Elizabeth Linville Jackson, Merriam Martha Linville Cassells and Eleanor Ellender Linville Cassells... possibly a brother or two who I have yet to discern and who weren't mentioned in the Estate or in this transcription of the Estate.
About 1848 Worley Daniel Linville married Margaret Catherine Newell. They had the following children who lived into adulthood:

Margaret Elizabeth b. 1849
Priscilla Frances b. 1852
Martha Jane b. 1854
Samantha Evaline b. 1857
Emma Josephine b. 1860
William Worley b. 1861
Isaac Marion b. 1865 - named after Margaret Newell's brother who died in the Civil War 9 June 1864
James Lafayette b. 1869

As stated before, in 1850 Worley Daniel with his wife, mother, and infant daughter Margaret, were found living in Randolph County, AL

In 1860 the family was still living in Randolph County, post office is listed as Rockdale. By this time Pricilla, Martha Jane, Samantha and Emma Josephine had been born. Also with this family is the 16 year old daughter of Worley's brother Lambert, Barbary E. Linville.

On 15 April 1864, Worley Daniel enlisted with the Confederacy and was elected First Lieutenant of Co. E of the 3rd Alabama  Reserves. Not much is known about his military career. His service records are only 2 pages long and I haven't been able to find any pension filed for him.

By 1870, Worley and his family, now with the three young boys; William, Isaac and James, are living about 50 miles North in Haralson County, GA. Their post office is listed as Tallapoosa. The year prior, in 1869 his daughter Priscilla Frances married Thomas Pope in this same county.

In November 1871 his oldest daughter Margaret Elizabeth married James F. Hughes in Haralson County.

In 1873, his daughter, Martha Jane, my ancestor married Jesse Josiah McClung in Haralson County, GA. They were married by JJ's maternal uncle Jesse G. Newman.

On 10 March of 1874, Worley Daniel Linville departed this life at the age of 57. He is said to be buried in Plunkett Cemetery, Collinsville, DeKalb County, Alabama.

Not long after his death, his daughters Samantha Evaline and Emma Josephine marry though I have yet to find marriage records. The 1900 census for these two sisters says they were married in 1874. Samantha E married Henry Washington Turner and Emma Josephine married her first cousin on  her maternal side, Isaac Johnson Harcrow. He was the son of W.L. "Lindsay" Harcrow and Lucinda T. Newell according to his Dearth Certificate.  Lucinda T. Newell was the sister of Margaret Catherine Newell.

In 1880 the widow Margaret is living with her three sons, William, Isaac and James in DeKalb County, AL not far from her married daughters Emma Harcrow and Priscilla Pope who are on the previous census page. Her married daughters Martha Jane McClung and Samantha Tanner are also living in DeKalb County very near one another but not as close to their mother and male siblings. Her oldest daughter Margaret Elizabeth Hughes is living in the neighboring county of Etowah.

In 1888, my ancestor, Martha Jane McClung dies at the young age of 33, possibly from childbirth.

The 1890 census is gone, but by 1900 most of this family has migrated to TX where in 1895 Margaret Elizabeth Hughes passed away at the age of 45. She is buried in Navarro County.
Pricilla and her family stayed in Alabama, where she died at the at of 77 in 1929.
It is said that Samantha died in 1902 in Wood County, TX - I can't find any record of her death. She would've only been 43. In 1900, Emma Josephine and her family are found living in Ellis Co and by 1910 they had moved to Haskell County where her mother Margaret Catherine is found living with Emma and Isaac's married daughter Laura Jackson. In 1919 the matriarch of this family passed away at the age of  88. Emma continued to live in Haskell until the age of 78. I was actually able to find her obituary from 1938 on Newspapers.com


William Worley became a prominent ranchman in the "Charlie Community". His first wife Fannie Owens died very young from fever in 1907. He remarried to a Louvenia Hellums. William Linville died in 1927 and was buried in Charlie, Clay County, TX at the age of 66.

Issaac spent most of his life in Palacios, Texas. He died there in 1949 at the age of 84.

James Lafayette passed away two years earlier in 1947 at the age of 77 in Haskell County, TX where he had lived for at least 40 years.

The thing I have learned about this family - whether it be the children of Worley Sr. or the children or Worley Daniel - many of them passed down that crazy name. Worley Sr.'s daughter Rebecca named a son Worley Phillips, my Worley named a son William Worley, Martha Cassels named a son Worley Absalom Cassels. Next generation - Worley Daniel's daughter Emma named her first born son Worley Harcrow,  Isaac Marion named a son John Worley and somewhere back in time there was that Worley Linville who married Rachel Pugh and settled in Tippah County Mississippi. Who was he named after and how is he tied into this family? Maybe that can be my next line of research.

Until next time,
Becky


Please be sure to check out my sister-in-law's post at Days of Our Lives  on her German immigrant ancestor and his final resting place.

When So Much Loss Leaves You Restless

This week the prompt from No Story Too Small is 'Halfway'. This left me stumped. I reached out to my SIL, who writes over at Days of Our Lives and she gave me a ton of ideas. I took a couple of them and decided to write about my 3rd great grandfather, Jesse Josiah McClung, who at the midway point in his life between the ages of 31-44  would lose his mother, wife, a son and a daughter. Two of his children would be buried at the halfway point between Georgia, where he was born, and Oklahoma where he died.

But let's start at the beginning.

Jesse Josiah McClung was they youngest son born to Solomon Reece McClung and Winey Lawson Newman. (I believe this is who my grandmother, Winnie Sue Jones was named after.) He was born 21 March 1853, in Haralson County, Georgia.

When Jesse was only 5 years old he lost his father on May 11, 1858. His mother never remarried.  At the age of 10 Jesse lost one of his older his brothers, William Jasper McClung. William served in Co. K. 40th Regt. Georgia Volunteers Infantry and was killed in Action July 25, 1863, at Vicksburg, Miss. He would later name a son after him.

On the 14th of August 1873, Jesse Josiah McClung married Martha Jane Linville. She was the daughter of Worley Daniel Lineville and Margaret Catherine Newell. Jesse and Martha were joined in matrimony by his maternal uncle, and namesake, Jesse G. Newman.




On  May 18, 1875 Martha gave birth to their first child, a daughter, named after both their mothers, Winney Lawson Margaret McClung. And within the next year they would welcome their first son and name him after Jesse's brother. William J. McClung.

By the 1880 census this little family is living in DeKalb County, AL and have two more little children added to their number. Two little girls, Matilda Ann and my ancestor Ora Frances. (Ora doesn't appear in the census because Martha is pregnant with her at the time of the enumeration.) Two years later they welcomed another little girl, my great grandmother's namesake, Lurie Evelyn McClung born 12 Sept 1882.

Then on April 9, 1884 Jesse would suffer the first of many consecutive blows. His mother passes away. This blow is softened a bit by the birth of two more sons, Robert Reece and Jessie Josiah Jr. who went by Joseph or 'Joe'.

Then another blow. Jesse's wife of 14 years,  Martha Jane, died 26 Feb 1888.

There was another child born to this union. One who like my ancestor Ora Frances, never made it into a census record with her parents. The only proof I have that either of these women were the children of Jesse and Martha comes from the interview of their brother Joe by Belle Newman Allen, who wrote Family Gleanings (1965).  This little girl's name was Tilly Ann. I wonder if Martha died giving birth to her?

According to "Joe", his father became very restless after Martha died. By 1893 he loaded up all of his children, except his oldest who was now married to Vinson Ford Studdard, and headed west to Texas. The family lived in Navarro County for three years before his father felt the urge to move again. In the Fall of 1897 they headed to Arkansas where two of the hardest blows to Jesse would be dealt. In Dec of that year while searching for a place that felt like home Jesse's son William became ill and died. Then one month later in the cold of January he would bury his baby *Tilly Ann. After these two devastating loses, Jesse and the remainder of his children headed back to Texas where they rented a little place near Mt. Pleasant in Titus County, Texas. This is where my 2nd great grandmother Ora Frances would meet and marry James Walter Rutherford on Christmas Day 1898. They would file their license January 2 1999. Oct 2 of that year my great grandmother Lurie Myrtle Rutherford was born and just 5 days later, her namesake Lurie Evelyn McClung would marry M G Davis. With just his two youngest boys left at home, Jesse moves again to Indian Territory. In 1910 he is living in Carmel, Jackson County, OK with his youngest son "Joe" and poor Lurie who is listed as a widow with her 3 little ones, Orris, Norman, and Annie. In 1920 Jesse is living  in Wall, Stephens County, OK with Lurie, now remarried to a Benjamin Prater. I wonder if they had a special bond in knowing the pain of losing a spouse. Jesse lived with Lurie the remainder of his life, until he passed away 12 March 1935.


*When I was growing up and spending my weekends with my grandmother, Winnie Sue, she would tell the story of a little girl who was buried near Mena on the wagon trail
on the way to TX. Being about 8 or so I don't remember many details and I'm not sure I even asked many questions. I just remember thinking how sad for that little girl to be buried on the side of the road somewhere. I believe Tilly Ann is who my grandmother was talking about. I always thought she said it was my Grandmother Jones' sister but after researching this family, and finding the Belle Newman Allen resource, I'm certain she said it was her grandmother's sister.

Until next week,
Becky

Son, Husband, Father, Soldier, Teacher, Freemason and Justice of The Peace

The prompt set for this week by No Story Too Small is 'wedding'. The first story that came to mind was that of my great grandparents Rufus and Wille Belle Nall and how they were married in a car garage and then as soon as they said their "I dos" they went to slaughter hogs. But I've already written about them here.

I couldn't recall any other wedding stories so I put out a Facebook request to anyone who might suggest an ancestor for me to write about. My Aunt Diane suggested my 3rd great grandfather Francis Marion Melson. And I think he will fit the bill perfectly.

According to his Civil War service records, Francis Marion Melson was born in DeKalb County, AL on 31 July 1838, to Absalom Patton and Ferbia Melitia (Upton) Melson. Absalom Patton Melson was a member of the House of Representatives for the State of Arkansas.


Francis Marion was the oldest child, followed by a sister, Mahala Kathleen, then a brother James W, sister Jemima, brother Andrew Jackson, sister Sarah and the baby of the family, named after his father, Absalom Patton Jr.

According to a family history, compiled by Andrew Melson, the family made their way from near Rome, GA to Mobile, AL in 1852.  They were said to have traveled in a homemade covered wagon and a team of oxen. At Mobile, Absalom sold most all of his possessions and got on a boat to travel to the mouth of the Mississippi River then to the Arkansas River to Morrison Bluff Landing near Clarksville where they unloaded and traveled up into the mountains about 12 miles NW of Clarksville and settled on a tract of land about six miles west of Ozone, AR or one and half miles SW of what is now known as Log Gap Springs.

In their Civil War Service Records, Francis gave his place of birth as DeKalb, AL and his brother James W gave his place of birth as Floyd Co. GA. Looking at Formation maps of the two states during the time of their birth we can see that these counties are VERY close one another. Absalom gives his place of birth as Burke Co, NC.

On 27 Dec 1860, two days after Christmas, Francis Marion Melson married Mary Emmaline Kinnerly. She was the daughter of John P. and Lucinda (Harbour) Kinnerly.

On 20 February 1862, Mary gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Amanda Catherine. Nearly one year later, on 6 February 1863, Francis enlisted on the side of the Union into Co A, 2nd Regm't of the Arkansas Infantry along with his father, Absalom and brother James W, at Warren, Arkansas. They mustered in on December 7th at Ft. Smith. Absalom was discharged due to disability caused by old age 25 Oct 1864. From the Adjutant General's office there is a record dated 1867 where the charge of desertion is removed from Francis' file and replaced with 'absent without leave' from 25 September 1864 - 1 Dec 1864 . He "deserted" from Lewisburg, AR.  I wonder why he left or where he went? One record shows that he "joined from desertion" Dec 1/1864 Johnson Co. On March 3, 1864 it shows he was "reduced from sergeant to the ranks" no further information is given.

I suspect the answer to Francis' "desertion" and reduction in rank comes from the previously mentioned book, compiled by Andrew Melson. On page 38 it gives the sad story of Francis and Mary's second child, Lucinda Anglin born 6 Jan 1864.

James W. Melson could be called the undertaker. While his brother, Francis Marion Melson was away in the Civil War, he scouted during the night taking care of his family and his brother's family - Mary and two small children. One morning, just before daylight, he went about one mile down on Bear Branch to where Francis had settled before the war when he married. Jim found that his brother's baby, Lucinda, had died during the night. He split out boards and made a box for the baby. He put it on his shoulder, with a pick and a shovel, his rifle in the other arm, and walked about four miles up the head of Bear Branch Canyon and buried the baby the next night himself, out on the mountain in what is now known as Sherman Cemetery.

Lucinda died 6 Feb 1864. I wonder if the right brother was given credit for this story as James W. was enlisted and serving with his father and brother. In his records it actually shows him as "present" for Jan & Feb '64.  I suspect it to have actually been younger brother Andrew Jackson "Jack" Melson that did the scouting and buried the baby, as I have found a few **errors in this book. Jack would've been only 16 at the time of baby Lucinda's death. Between the death of his baby and the lawlessness that plagued Johnson County, I suspect Francis left Lewisburg and went back home to check on his family.

The best information I have been able to find about the roll of the 2nd Regm't Arkansas Infantry is as follows:

 

Organized at Springfield, Mo., and Fort Smith, Ark., October, 1863, to March, 1864. Organization completed at Fort Smith March 13, 1864. Attached to District of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corp., Dept. of Arkansas, January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Corps, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th corps, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Skirmish at Clarksville December 15, 1863. Affair at Jacksonport, Ark., November 21, 1863. At Fort Smith until March, 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23-May 3. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Moscow April 13. Limestone Valley April 17 (Detachment). Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Duty at Little Rock until July and at Lewisburg until September. Ordered to Little Rock September 10, and duty there until October 18. Escort train to Fort Smith October- November. Moved to Clarksville December 31, and duty there and at Fort Smith until August. Mustered out August 8, 1865.

 

 

Francis' family lived in a notorious place for lawlessness during the Civil War. According to the 'Melson Book',  while Francis and most of the men were gone, Mary helped dig the first two graves in the Oark Cemetery and buried two men who had been found shot by bushwhackers in the road above Oark near a spring in 1863.

After returning home from the war, Francis is said to have taught the first term of school that was taught in Low Gap Township, Johnson County. The school house was a little log cabin about 200 yards north of Low Gap Springs.

Children born to Francis M. and Mary E. Melson after the war were:

Sarah Isabell b. 15 Sept 1865
William Robert b. 21 Dec 1867
Clerica Armindo b. 10 Dec 1869
Mary Elizabeth b. 20 July 1871
John Wesley b. 17 Jan 1874 and died 28 Sept 1875
Alabama b. 27 March 1876
Ida Lee b. 2 March 1878
Francis Elmer b. 9 Jan 1880 and died 10 May 1881
Columbus C. "Bud" b. 18 March 1882
Tennessee Easter b. 13 April 1884
Absalom b. 14 Oct 1886 d. 6 August 1887
Benjamin Harrison (my ancestor) b. 10 Sept 1889



 Back row: Columbus Melson, Benjamin Harrison Melson, Easter Tennessee 'Tennie' Melson. Sitting: Francis Marion Melson, Mary Melson holding grandson George Washington Campbell, whose mother, Amanda Catherine had died during childbirth.

Francis Marion also served as the Justice of the Peace in 1870, where he performed the marriage of his younger brother Andrew "Jack" Melson to Jane Heinsley on 22 Jan 1870. In going through the old marriage records I also found where he married Zecharia Cowen and Polina Wagers on 6 March 1870, as well as J T Sykes and Martha Ann Summers on 11 Sept 1870.

Francis Marion Melson was also a Freemason - as you can see from his headstone.

Francis can be found in the Abstracts from Masonic Records from the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, for the years 1873-1879, 1880-1883 & 1884-1886.

There is one more piece of lore I would like to add to the life story of Francis Marion Melson. My grandfather, Leroy Harrison Melson, has always told of a story involving treasure. Family lore says that during the war Francis discovered or somehow came into some gold and by the end of the war he had enough money to buy all of his children their own homestead. I haven't been able to find much else about this story... but in the mean time here's another Civil War hidden treasure story from not far off in Madison County.

**I want to address that I mean no disrespect in pointing out that the "Melson-Book; 1813-1973" has errors. In fact I have the utmost respect and appreciation for those who put these books together. Most were done before all the easily accessible information we have today. A lot of information that was given was done so by word of mouth and were taken from the memory of those most acquainted with the individuals documented. Mistakes happen. Memories fail. Even today with all the information that can be gathered, mistakes happen. So to Andrew Melson, I am extremely grateful.

Captured At Vicksburg

This week the prompt from No Story Too Small is 'Military', and I have chosen to write about my 4th great grandfather Asa Franklin Moore.

According to census records, Asa was born about 1830 in South Carolina. I am not certain of his parentage, but I believe it to be Hutson and Susanna Moore. In the 1850 Laurens County South Carolina census, dwelling #1941, is Hutson  (53), Susanna (44), Oliver (22), Alsey F. (21), Luraney (19), William (18), Stephan B. (16), Parthena (14), Perncey (12), Malissa (10), John B. (8), Lei M. (6) and Munro (4).

I believe "Alsey F." to be my Asa. I have looked up the will of Hutson Moore, who died in 1874 and he makes no mention of any of his children -- only his wife, Susanna. But "Perncey" aka "Perneecy" from this household ends up marrying William Marion Riddle and settling not far from my Asa Franklin Moore in the same county (Johnson) in Arkansas. Also - my ancestor Franklin Redford Moore, son of Asa, named his first child, a daughter, Alsey. Maybe Alsey was his nickname?

Also in Laurens County, SC 1850 census is family # 1717 - the household of Solomon and Barbary "Golasby" (Gillespie) with several children, including 19 year old daughter Amanda. Sometime between 1850 and 1852 Amanda and Asa Franklin Moore marry.  In 1852 Amanda gives birth to their first child Mary J. Moore. I find Asa that same year in the Franklin County Georgia Tax books. I also find him in the tax lists for the years 1854, 1858 & 1867. In 1854 Amanda's father Solomon is also in Franklin County, GA, where he remarries a MUCH younger Elizabeth Pierce. His former wife, Barbara is still alive and in Laurens, South Carolina, living with a Vaughan and Bolt family.

In 1855 Amanda gave birth to their second child, Martha, then George Washington in 1859, and Amanda Silvenus in 1863 (I'm sure Asa was gone fighting, possibly at the siege of Chattanooga, at the time of her birth.).

On May 12 1862 Asa F. Moore, along with his brother-in-law *Simeon Thomas, volunteered on the side of the Confederacy in Franklin County GA with Captain Russell A. Jones Company, Johnson's Regiment Georgia Infantry which later became Company G, 34th Regiment Georgia Infantry.

"This unit was sent to Tennessee, then Mississippi where it was assigned to T.H. Taylor's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It participated in the battle at Champion's Hill and was captured at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. Exchanged and reorganized it was placed in General Cummings' Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 34th was active in many engagements from Chattanooga to Nashville, and ended the war in North Carolina. It reported 34 casualties at Chattanooga, contained 369 men and 266 arms in December, 1863, and had 219 fit for duty in Janaury, 1865. Very few surrendered in April. The field commanders were Colonel J.A.W. Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel J.W. Bradley, and Majors Thomas T. Dorough and John M. Jackson" ~ Taken from The National Park Service.

Below is the roster in which Asa F. Moore is listed as prisoner #351, captured at Vicksburg.

Known skirmished that Asa's unit fought in are:

Vicksburg Campaign (May-July 1863)
Chattanooga seige (Sept.-Nov. 1863)
Battle of Cahttanooga (Nov. 23-25, 1863)
New Hope Church (May 25 - June 4, 1864)
Atlanta (July 22, 1864)
Jonesboro (Aug 31-Sept 1,1864)
Nashville (Dec. 15-16, 1864)
Bentonville, NC (March 19-21, 1865)
they were at Joe Johnston's surrender on April 26, 1865.

 

Asa with his youngest son William.
(Notice the way he holds his right hand)

After Asa returned home from war Amanda gave birth to my ancestor, Franklin Redford "Red", in 1866, the following year they had Rosanna E.

In 1870, the same year Amanda gave birth to Solomon Jasper, the family can be found living in St. Clair County, AL where they are also found 10 years later in 1880. By then Amanda had given birth to their last child William T. who had been born in 1873. I wonder what prompted them to move.

By 1889 Asa and his family had moved again to Johnson County, AR where on Christmas Eve of that year Amanda passed away at the age of 58. She is buried in Stillwell Cemetery, in Johnson County.

In  July 1897 Asa filed his application for his pension. According to his application on July 25th 1864, at the Battle of Atlanta, he was shot in the forearm of his right hand. Dr. John W. Mitchell said in his report that the wound was "of right forearm midway between wrist and elbow" When asked  how this wound was cause for disability pension the doctor's response was "Feeble heath incapacity due not only to old age, but the wound lacerated muscle of arm causing wasting or atrophy and inability to grasp anything and at times becoming almost useless."


Fellow members of the 34th Regiment who came forth as witnesses for Asa's pension were Benjamin F. Ellis, Andrew J. Burgess and of course, *Simeon Thomas.

In March of 1901 Asa's pension was approved and he was allowed $60.00 to be drawn from.

On 25 Mar 1909, Asa Franklin Moore passed away. He was buried in Stillwell Cemetery, Johnson County, AR with his wife.


*Simeon Thomas married Amanda Gillespie's sister, Elizabeth Jane Gillespie.

Until Next Week,
Becky