52 Ancestors - Favorite Name

I have really enjoyed researching my Step-parents' lines. Especially when they lead to individuals who lived in the Northern part of the United States. It has broadened my research skills and given me an opportunity to use and view records I haven't had the chance to use or see in my own lines. Nearly all of my own family (that I can trace) migrated here, ending up in the Northern New England States, then migrated South into the Carolinas and Virginia then kept going South down into TN and KY and on Westward.

This week I'll be focusing again on my brother, Tyler's line. The prompt is favorite name. There is one line I am choosing to focus on because there are several unusual, to me, names in this line. Not the every day, William, Michael, John, James, Joseph that are common in my tree. I don't know why I've taken the word favorite and turned it into unusual other than maybe, I enjoy the new-ness of these names. And the first one... it just seems like an 'upper crust' Downton Abbey kind of name.

Meet our great grandfather, Chancey H Conklin. That cute little girl? That's me! And that chubby faced little baby, that's Tyler. He is being held by our great grandmother, Chancey's wife, Edith.

Honestly, I don't remember too much about either of these individuals. I vaguely remember a trailer house in Lincoln that they lived in and then later an apartment in Prairie Grove. I remember several day visits, never any spending the night, that I recall. Grandpa died when I was not quite nine and I think Grandma moved away after that. She died in 2008.

I love his name. Because I only knew him as Grandpa Conklin, I had to ask how he pronounced his first name. Was it Chancey, pronounced Chan-see or was it Chauncey, pronoucned Chawn-see? He spelled it Chancey and Dad and Grandma both said he pronounced it the first way. The name Chancey an English varient of the French name Chauncey and means Chancellor; secretary; fortune; a gamble


Chancey was born in 1911 in Boulder Township, Linn, Iowa to Verner Conklin and Alice Hannah Hill. His full given name according to the birth record is Chauncy Hill Conklin. Notice the spelling of the first name, this is what gave me confusion as to the pronunciation. This is the only place I have seen it spelled with the 'au' and its from an index, not the actual record, so we can take it with a grain of salt.  I really love it when the mother's maiden name is incorporated into her children's names. There were other children born to this union, but sadly, Chancey was the only one that survived infancy.

While researching Chancey, I came across a yearbook photo of him from 1932. He was attending Coe College and according to his daughter, my grandmother, he played football there. Also, according to a newspaper article I found he was a member of the fraternity, Alpha Kappa Pi.




In 1939, at the age of 28, he married Edith Lenora Sauser.

Now on to the next name, Verner. Isn't that an unusual name? Or is just me? Verner is Scandinavian or German and means covered warrior or friend protector. When doing a search using only his first name, I find it isn't that unusual a name, but it is to me so I'm gonna roll with it. I know he had a grandson that was given this name as his middle name. I love it when names are handed down from generation to generation.

Verner C Conklin was born 25 May 1875 in Linn County Iowa. His parents were Chancey R Conklin and Anna Marie Bayley. I have so many questions about Verner. But for now I will write what I know. On 30 November 1899 in Prairieburg Township he married Alice Hannah Hill ( I can't wait to write more about Alice's lineage). In the information given in the marriage record he lists his occupation as carpenter. This is a skill set that lasted generations with this family. They were always somehow connected to this profession. His father was also a carpenter and he had at least two uncles that were heavy in the lumber industry. One of which owned and managed a lumber yard in Kansas.

As far as I can tell, Verner was the only son born to Chancey and Ann Marie. He was the oldest, followed by three girls, Iva Viola, Annie, and Marian Elinor.

By 1910 Verner must have hung up the hammer and nails and opted for a shovel and plow because his occupation is listed as farmer and remains so throughout the remaining census records, both State and Federal. In 1915, still giving his occupation as a farmer, he listed his total earnings for the year 1914 as being $600.

As I stated before Verner and his wife Alice only had one child that lived past infancy and they both die in 1947. I can't find a specific date for either, only the year. I don't know what was the COD. In an effort to find more information I ended up finding two more free online sources/newspaper databases Here and Here. But I still couldn't find an exact death date or cause for either Verner or his wife, Alice. I've also never discovered what his middle initial 'C' stood for. Possibly Chancey, but that's just a guess.

I did find these few articles:

One stating that Verner was the District Secretary

July 1924

This one where Chancey is selling his parents' estate and announces his move to California:

Feb 1948

Now on to Verner's father, Chancey R Conklin. He was born in 1844 in Licking, OH to other GREAT names Silas and Sabra Parr Conklin. This family didn't stay in OH long after Chancey's birth, as his younger brother Henry was born in Iowa in 1847 and the family is enumerated in 1850 living in Clay Township, Jones, Iowa.

Chancey had seven siblings: Louisa, Henry, Sylvester, Horace, Allen James, Edward Thomas, and Wm Dell.

In 1850 & 1860 Chancey can be found in the home of his father. In 1870 he strikes out on his own and is found living in Delaware Township, Otoe County, Nebraska farming with his brother Sylvester. This venture in Nebraska did not last long for Chancey.

Other than the newness of names, another thing I'm discovering while researching this line is how old many of them are before they're married. In my line, everyone is practically still babies; marrying in their teens. Chancey, at the age of 29, married thirty-one year old, Ann Marie Bayley, 17 Sept 1873 in Linn, County, Iowa.

Ann Marie Bayley was the daughter of James P Bayley and Tryphena Catlin Bayley.  Have you ever in the history of ever seen or heard the name Tryphena? If you have it may have been from the Bible, specifically Romans 16:12. I have never heard of it anywhere else. The name means 'dainty', 'delicate' or 'luxurious'. Again, like Verner, after doing a search of her first name only, I discovered there to be several women named Tryphena. But still, like Chancey it has that 'upper-crust' feel, doesn't it? Or is it really just me?

As I said before, this is a line of builders. In 1880, Chauncey is listed as a Carpenter; his brother Henry, a Brick Mason; his brother Sylvester, in 1900, lists his occupation as Mason Worker; Horace a Plasterer; and Edward owned and managed several Lumber Yards. Here is one article from 1906, that I found interesting:

The Conklins weren't just laborers though. They were also very involved politically in their community. Chancey was the Justice of the Peace for several years and his brother Horace was the first Mayor of Prairieburg. In the below article (left side) you will also find mention of Chancey's  daughter-in-law, Alice.

Page 7 of Cedar Rapids Gazette; 20 July 1937

Page 5 of Cedar Rapids Gazette; 23 Jan 1894

In 1902 Chancy R Conklin dies from a lingering illness. His wife lived 15 years without him, passing away in 1917.

As mentioned earlier, Chancey's father was Silas Conklin. Silas is a Hebrew name and derives from the name Saul. It means "the youngest". Was Silas the youngest sibling? I'm not sure. I don't know for certain who his parents were. I suspect his father to be the Matthew that is listed on the same page in the 1840 Hartford, Licking, OH census who is between the age of 70-79. I haven't taken the time to research this lead yet. One other Conklin living in Hartford was John Conklin who was listed right above Silas. His age was listed as being 30-39 so he was definitely older than Silas who was aged 20-29. John remains in Hartford and in the 1850 census has a David Conklin, age 90, living with him.

In 1841 Silas married Sabra Parr. Sabra is also Hebrew in origin and means "rest".

Sabra died in 1875 and Silas remarries a woman by the name of Mary who was 20 years younger. In the 1880 census there is also a young two year old girl by the name of Lenora that is referred to as 'adopted'.

Silas dies in March the following year.

It is interesting to note in his Estate papers the items that are sold at auction: Shingle tins, nails, casings, brads, bolts & screws, locks, latches, drawer locks, cuboard latches, window stops... all items he would've used in his trade as a carpenter. 

I love to see this trade in this particular line because my Step-Dad is very skilled when it comes to building things. He isn't a carpenter by profession, but he has designed two houses and did a lot of the building himself and has done a lot of carpenter work on their retirement cabin and bunkhouse. It's in his blood and he does wonderful work.

I hope you're enjoying these.

Until next time,
Becky

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

Alabama Pioneer

School is finally out for the summer and I'm finding it difficult to get time for my blog on a consistent basis. I may get this one done just in the nick of time.

The prompt this week is "The Old Homestead" and I've chosen to write about my 4th great grandfather Henry Athey.

This week I ran across a new to me resource - The General Land Records Bureau of Land Management database where you can look up land records. If you're lucky you can download a copy of the actual record and you can even view that land on a map. After plugging several of my ancestors into their little search box I finally came across one who seemed to have purchased quite a bit of land in the early days of Alabama history - and according to some of these records he fought during the Indian Wars (Creek War of 1836 and the Second Seminole War also called Florida War) Henry Athey.

According to census records, Henry Athey was born in South Carolina in the year 1809. His parents are said to be Henry Athey Sr. and Carrie Hartman.

I think I will try to lay out the information I have on him in a timeline.

• Aug 20, 1834 at the age of 25, Henry purchased 79.81 acres in Montgomery County, AL
• Aug 02, 1837 Henry, now 28,  purchased 40.05 acres also in Montgomery County (there is a duplicate for this land record and the one following recorded for the date July 28, 1838)
• Aug 12, 1837 He purchased 40.11 acres in Montgomery County
• Aug 15, 1838 Henry married Sarah L. Brunson
  
• 1839 Sarah gave birth to a son, William Athey
• 1840 Sarah gave birth to a son, Barnett Athey
• 1842 Sarah gave birth to a son, Wilson Athey
• 1843 Sarah gave birth to a son, John Athey
• 1845 Sarah gave birth to a son, James Athey
• 1847 Sarah gave birth to my ancestor, Benjamin Franklin Athey
• 1849 Sarah gave birth to Thomas Athey
• 1850 the family is found in Pike County, AL those listed are Henry (41), Sarah (37), William (11), Barnett (10), Wilson (8), John (7), James (5), Benjamin (3), Thomas (1) and Joseph H. Robb (22)
• 1852 Sarah gave birth to their youngest, George Athey
• Nov 02, 1854 Henry was awarded 40 acres of Bounty Land for his service as a Private in Captain McDougall's Company, Alabama Militia during the Florida War in Walton & Washington County, FL

• Feb 14, 1857 Henry sold a slave, *Matilda, who was pregnant to a Mr. Littleton Olive. The events that followed this transaction would end up in the Supreme Court as Athey v Olive, 34 Alabama 711 (1859). You can download a free EBook with most all of the information about this case.
• May 03, 1860 Henry was awarded 119.85 acres Bounty Land in Crenshaw County, AL for his service in the Creek War under Captain McDougald, Alabama Militia. Crenshaw County at that time would've been Pike County, AL (Here's a link to an Alabama Formation Map)
  
  
  On that same day in the records lists this same parcel of land being sold to Henry by the Widow of  James F. Johnston, Sarah Johnston.
  
  Henry Athey's Bounty Land Record:

Sarah Johnston - War of 1812 Bounty Land Record Assigned to Henry Athey:

•  Jun 08, 1860 Henry's family is once again in the Pike County, AL census minus his wife, Sarah and son William. Those listed are Henry (51) Josiah B (19) Wilson W. (17), John W. (15) James B (14) Benjamin (12) Thomas (10) and baby George (7).  William is still living though I can't find him listed in the 1860 census. He is later named as the Administrator of his father's Estate in 1862. From papers found in Henry's Estate File I have deduced that Henry must've died between months of April and Dec 1862. Below is a note that includes his signature in bottom right corner..
   
  Below is an image from his Estate File that proves he is no longer alive by Dec 1862
   
  Below is an image I put together of the parcels of land recorded by the BLM for Henry Athey
   
  
  
  Where his homestead was exactly is a mystery. But according to one Brunson decendant I believe it would be somewhere close to where he registered land on Nov 01, 1858
  
  That square with the star in it looks like this upclose. Notice the Patsaliga Creek.
  
  A letter in the Crenshaw County News, written by one of David Brunson’s grandsons talks about several of the family members, and early residents of Pike/Crenshaw County. Source: “Obits and Abstracts 1910-1919, compiled by Joyce English 

   "My grandfather was first stuck on lands in Clark County on the Tom Bigbee River near Salt Springs, and after a while, he sold out to the Benbows & moved to Clark County. After my father was grown he came back to the Valley & married Elizabeth Jinkins and moved to Montgomery county four miles north of Pine Level. In 1852 he came back to the Valley and settled on the ridge that forms the Patsaliga Bluff that was, when I was five years old Precincts 8 and 9. This county was then an uninhabited territory . At that time Henry Athey and Walter Compton lived in between Mt. Ida and the Patsaliga, and a little lower down lived Daniel Plancy & his sons Job & Daniel then down at the Bluff, lived my uncles Ben and David Brunson, and out from the river were Umphrey Capps and Mr. Holiday, and down in the bend where H.W.Carnes now lives. Uncle V.A.T. Underwood lived."

  **The Benbow's and Compton's are mentioned in Henry's Estate File.
  
  Until next week,
  Becky Drake
  
  Please check out my SIL's blog over at Days of Our Lives

Heirlooms, Keepsakes and Memories

This week the prompt given by No Story Too

Small in the 52 Ancestors Challenge is 'Heirloom'....

I'm super excited about this post. I started by requesting on Facebook that any of my family that had any heirlooms please contact me. The response was wonderful! While some of the items may not have necessarily been passed down generation to generation, they definitely hold a great deal of sentiment for those who now own these treasures belonging to their ancestors.

I'll start with my mother's cousin (that's easier than saying my first cousin 1x removed) Tarona who sent me a picture of a very unusual item that belonged to her grandmother, my great grandmother, Zula Jane Acord Stepp. It is a four eyed bottle opener. A little research shows it was made in the 1940's by Wilton Co. Tarona shared that her mother, Jayne, remembered that Grandma Zula got it after she was married in 1946.

Tarona says:

"When I was really little it kinda scared me and then as I got older I couldn't wait to get a coke so I could use it! It was on the door jam in Grandma Zulie's kitchen......I wouldn't take a million dollars for it."

Another cousin of my mother, Debra,  has Grandma Zula's old Singer sewing machine from 1912

 

My grandmother, Reba, has and old cast iron tea kettle made by Bridgeford & Co, Louisville, KY, 1868.  It belonged to Grandma Zula's maternal grandmother Jane Conner Evans.



My Aunt Diane has the Bynum Family Bible printed in 1884. It was given to my 3rd great grandmother, Lou Emmer Reynolds, who married John Thomas Bynum, from her "Papa" 17 May 1885 when she was only 11 years old. She kept it and wrote in it her birthdate as well as the birthdate of her children. Diane also has my great grandmother Bondell Bynum Melson's thimble.

Another cousin of mine, Mike, has his grandmother, my great-grandmother, Myrtle Rutherford Jones' old WWII ration book:

I have a few treasures of my own and a few people to thank for them. I'll start with my Dad and Dawna who gifted me this past Christmas with my great grandmother Wille Belle Foster Nall's old canning funnel. Then my dad's cousin Angie who so graciously thought of me at the passing of my great grandmother and gathered up a box full of stuff that belonged to her and then made sure I got it. In it was this old standing mixer from Montgomery Ward dated 1963 complete with beaters and two mixing bowls, a serving bowl that still had Grandma's address label she used so that her dish would be returned to her when she brought food to the church potlucks and a decorative plate. The one with a solid round edge is hers. The plate that matches it belonged to my husband's grandmother - it has more pointy edges. I love that I have these two "matching" items from opposite sides of my daughter's family. I also have one of my most treasured items; one of the last Christmas gifts I ever received from Grandma Nall - a handwritten recipe for her chocolate gravy.









From my grandmother Winnie Sue Jones Nall (We called her Mammy), I have a cook book from our church - where she wrote me a sweet note on the worn out cover. It was a gift to me Christmas 2008.




And then there's my Uncle Mike and family who were kind enough to give me the family's old wood cook stove. I remember my Mammy and Grandma Nall cooking on it during a camp out we had in the field below Mammy's house one year. My grandpa, Charles Nall, brought in the big hay trucks for us to sleep on and in the morning we had biscuits, bacon, sausage, chocolate gravy, eggs and hot chocolate for breakfast. It was quite a treat! When I posted pictures of it on Facebook, my great Aunt Dena told me that the stove had originally belonged to her Dad, Rufus Nall, and that he bought it from Chicken Hollar in Farmington because he didn't like the way propane made his biscuits taste. He kept it on the back porch to cook his 'catheads'.

  

  

My Dad has his dad's old Bible. It has my grandfather's marriage date and the names of the witnesses and who married them. They were married by Charles' father Benjamin Rufus Nall and the witnesses were my grandmother Winnie Sue's brother, Edwin Jones and Charles' sister, Mildred (Dena). The handwriting belongs to my grandmother, Winnie Sue.  

  

  

My Great Aunt Peggy shared an heirloom she and my Uncle Dwight have. Dwight's dad, my great grandfather, Newell Stepp Sr. was a machinist in the Army in WW1. He made 5 ballpeen hammers while he was in the Army. He gave one to his commanding officers and brought the others home. A few years ago Dwight was visiting his cousin, Edna McDonald and she had one of the hammers that Newell made and gave to her Mother. She said she wanted Dwight to have the hammer, which he is very proud of. We don't know where the other 3 hammers are. They have Newell's serial number stamped on them, unfortunately its too faded to make out.

  

Another heirloom from my great grandmother, Willie Belle Foster Nall, now belongs to my dad's cousin Tracie. It is her old butter churn.

What family treasures do you and your family members have?

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

When The Way Is Hard

This week's blog post will need to be credited to Edith Boyer Suggs (1906-1992), my first cousin 5x removed. She complied a book in 1963, known as The House Of Boyer. It is probably one of the many reasons I fell in love with genealogy. It is the perfect mix of names, dates, (and the best part) stories about the lives of my ancestors and many of their descendants.

 

 

The theme for this week is 'There Is A Way' and I've decided to retell the sad story of my 5th great grandparents, William Henry Boyer and his wife Mary Cooper Boyer. The Civil War left people without many choices. And the choices they did make, were life altering, and weren't without consequences. They couldn't have been easy choices to make. The story of my ancestors isn't unique. Many of those living in Johnson County, Arkansas, during the Civil War had similar stories. There was extreme lawlessness at the hands of bushwhackers who took advantage of the unfortunate circumstances. Many of the men were off fighting the war, leaving older men, women and children to fend for themselves. Any kind of law enforcement were also busy fighting a war. There was no one to hold these renegades responsible for their crimes, and many brutal, and bloody crimes were committed.  I have several ancestors from this era and this area who met just as awful circumstances. Some didn't survive. But those tales will be told another day.
 

William Henry Boyer was the son of Henry and Mary (Gambell) Boyer. According to Civil War records, he was born in Humphreys County, Tennessee in the year 1818. *In one page of his records it lists his birthplace as Hampton Co, Tenn - which does not exist, and in The House of Boyer it lists his birth place as Hamilton Co * I am going to go with Humphreys Co.,  as I have found census records for a Henry Boyer with wife Mary and a few of their children in 1850 living in said county. I took the time to look at a formation map during the time of William's birth - the borders changed significantly between the years 1817-1819. And the population for the entire county for the year of 1820 was only 4,067.

 

The first proof of William H. Boyer's residence in the State of Arkansas, I have, comes from the affidavit of his wife Mary Cooper in her application for a widow's pension. She states her marriage date as 4 March 1841 in Spadra, Johnson County, AR. Mary's family moved to Johnson County, AR, from Rhea, Tennessee, sometime before 1836 where I find tax records in Johnson County for her father Kennedy Cooper. In 1830 Kennedy Cooper and family were found in Rhea, TN. so that narrows the date of their arrival to a window of 6 years.  In Edith's book, The House of Boyer, she states that there is a land grand for William H. Boyer in 1839, I have not found it. *Keep in mind that Mrs. Boyer-Sugg's did genealogy the old fashioned way. Traveling miles and researching records from court houses, libraries, and writing letters to any connection she may have found a long the way. I have the utmost respect for her and those like her.*
 

Mary Cooper was the daughter of Kennedy Cooper and Sussana Keesie/Kessie. She was born 6 January 1825 in Rhea, TN.
 

William Henry was a farmer by trade and the same year as the birth of his oldest child Mary Martha (who married William Wallace Swift), I find a land certificate registered in Fayetteville land office for 80 acres. His place of residence is listed as Pope County, which is directly to the East of Johnson County. In 1844, his daughter Parmelia (my ancestor), was born, then in 1846 his daughter Melinda was born. That same year, William Henry, enlisted into Company A, Gray's Battalion, Arkansas Volunteers, to fight in the Mexican American War. It's suspected that this was a way to improve his standing and gain more land. William Henry was one of about 380 men who were sent to Indian Territory to keep peace and allow U.S. forces there to enter the war under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Gray. In Edith Boyer-Suggs book she mentions that William received an Honorable Discharge in 1847, at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, and received 165 acres of Bounty Land, located in Horsehead Township, Johnson Co. I have not been able to locate this record but Fold3 has an unindexed record, warrant # 47-160-15474 assigned to William H. Boyer.
 

In 1849, William Henry and Mary had another daughter Sarah Ann and in 1851 Mary finally gave birth to a son, James W. Next came Elizabeth in 1854 and Susan in 1857 then Mary Emeline in 1861
 

In February 1862 William Henry once again enlisted in the military on the side of the Confederacy. This time to fight in Company 'F' 10th Regiment Arkansas Militia for a period of only 3 months. Then in October 1863 he enlisted in Company 'L' Hill's 7th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, this is the same month and year that his youngest child, the father of Edith Boyer-Suggs, was born, William Smith Boyer.

 

 

By this time the Civil War was well under way. William and Mary's two oldest daughters were already married. Mary Martha to a Yankee and my ancestor, Parmelia, to a Rebel. Sometime in the early part of August 1864, William was warned by neighbors that he would be one of three men who were to be attacked by the outlaws that pillaged Johnson Co.  William and the other two men on the list, were thought to have money. The other men were caught and tortured and their feet badly burned. But as soon as William had received warning he and Mary and their children quickly loaded their wagon with as many necessities and provisions as they could and left the Boyer Homestead. They barely made it. Just as their place was nearly out of sight they could see smoke rising into the sky, telling them that their home and all the belongings they had to leave behind were being burned.

This next part I will quote directly from Mrs. Boyer-Sugg's book:

With very little food and bedding, the farm wagon was still overloaded with 6 children of theirs and a niece (4 year old Jennie Ogilvie, daughter of Lavinia Boyer and Wm. Smith Ogilvie, a Confederate Soldier) and possibly some of Henry's married daughters. They started to Little Rock, AR, 112 miles away. Wm. Henry and Mary are said to have walked most of the way, with very little food. It was at Little Rock, on Aug 20, 1864, that Wm. Henry joined the Union or Federal Army. (Note: he changed sides.) He was in Company 'I' 2nd Arkansas Infantry. In return, the U.S. Government sent Mary Boyer and her children (my father, Wm. Smith Boyer, was only 10 months old) to Winona Co., Minn. for the duration of the war by the way of the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers.

Wm. Henry Boyer was transferred back to Clarksville, AR, to serve in the Medical Corps., having been assigned to the Post Isolation (Smallpox) Hospital. The building being used for the hospital was an old log residence that stood on the east side of what is now College Avenue, some 500 feet south of the railroad tracks. It was while nursing the Federal Soldiers there that he contracted Smallpox and died Feb. 16, 1865, at the age of 47, only a few months before the close of that terrible war. He was buried in the northern part of what is now Oakland Cemetery, at Clarksville. Then in 1867 the U.S. Government exhumed the remains and buried him in the National Cemetery at Ft. Smith, Ark. No one can say, as no one will ever really know, if this brave and courageous man, Wm. Henry Boyer, was a strong, opinionated man and was always willing to fight for his convictions, or if he was a husband and father who thought of the betterment and safety of the ones he loved. Whichever it be, the decision must not have been an easy one, as he had family and friends on both sides of that terrible conflict.

 Mrs. Boyer-Sugg's father was too young to remember the sad day his family said good-bye to his father, but her Aunt "Liz" (Elizabeth Boyer - Bramlett) was not. She was the one who shared this sad story and conveyed the fears of the dangerous journey from Arkansas to Minnesota.  She vividly remembered the tearful parting of her father and mother on the boat dock at Little Rock (they never saw each other again) and the long journey up the Mississippi River.

Mary Cooper and her children to didn't return to Johnson County, AR, until 1868, as there was strong resentment against them and other similar families who were northern sympathizers. Several Johnson County residents had fled the area and moved north during the war. I have other ancestors that went to stay with family further north into MO.

Mary's pension papers were originally filed in Winona Co., Minn. and had to be transferred back to Johnson Co. She was awarded $8/month as well as $2/month for every child under the age of 16. At the time of her application those children were James W., Elizabeth, Susan, Mary Emeline, and Wm. Smith.

Mary must have been a strong woman (as I'm sure many were during that time period). When she and  her children returned, she rebuilt her home at the same location of the one that had been burned. She raised her young children alone and never married again. She died at the home of her oldest daughter, Mary Martha Swift, in Franklin County, AR, on November 7, 1907 at the age of 76. She is buried in the Arnold Cemetery, one mile south and west of the Boyer Homestead.


If you are reading this and would like copies of the records I have collected, just ask, and I will be happy to share any information I have.

Until next week,
Becky

Where There's A Will, There's A Source.

I have to once again give kudos to No Story Too Small for this amazing idea of blogging about a different ancestor each week and to my sister-in-law at Days of Our Lives for letting me in on it. I have learned so much about my heritage and have made a lot of new contacts with various relatives. I love it! Alongside subscriptions to Ancestry, Fold3 and Newspapers.com I also have found great success in using FamilySearch and believe it or not, Facebook. You would be surprised at how many genealogy groups you can find. Some are better than others.

 

We're now on week #18 and the theme is 'Where There's A Will'... This will prompt me to write about my 5th great grandfather John Young because it was through his will that I was able to find a source to document my 3rd great grandmother, Martha Elizabeth Young's parentage.

According to the 1850 census John Young was born in Ireland in 1773, but after joining the Buncombe Co. NC Genealogy Research Facebook group, a descendant of John's shared with me a few images she had of John's Bible!! According to the Bible entry, John was more specifically born May 11, 1773.

This Bible was found by Bruce Whitaker in an 1820's era house, last occupied by Mary Edmundson Pinkerton, who was a direct descendant of John Young's.

 

Sometime around the year 1800, John married Roseanna, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Mckey - Mackey) Hemphill. (Roseanna's father, Thomas Hemphill, mentions his son-in-law, John Young in his will.) By December 1800, their first child, Jane, was born. The next child born to this union is little Thomas Young, born December 12, 1902 and he died the following May. My ancestor William was born January 15, 1904 and the next child born, as was a common naming tradition of the Irish, was named after their deceased son, Thomas, who had been named after Rosanna's father. Thomas Lawrence Young was born March 6, 1806 followed by Mary M. , Nancy, Samuel and last but not least, Martha.

 

An article shared to me by a new found distant cousin, Shirley Summey, says that John lived in Burke County prior to moving to Buncombe County, NC. In the year of 1799 he was appointed election clerk, in the January term he served on the Grand Jury, and in the October term he served on a road jury from Morganton to Buncombe. And in 1800 John Young was appointed constable. This article was written by Linda Murdock. In gearing up for this post I have searched through the court files on Family Search and at this point in time I have only found records for John being a constable, but the year is 1799 - July Term. (I'm still searching - I've made it to image 523/998) *Other Young's mention in these files are a Joseph, Thomas, Wesley or Westley and a Rachel*








The Greensboro Patriot - 3 April 1833

In doing research on John, I discovered the tragic death of his youngest, Martha. It would seem in March of 1833, at the age of 17, when she and a friend were on their way to school, they had to cross the Swannano River. Both girls slipped and fell in and poor Martha drowned.

Notice that John's name is followed by Esq... I was curious what that signified. And I found the following:
"In the United States, the title is given to public officers of all degrees, from governors down to justices and attorneys. Indeed, the title, in addressing letters, is bestowed on any person at pleasure, and contains no definite description. It is merely an expression of respect. Webster's Dictionary, by Noah Webster, LL.D., Hurst & Company 1897"




Rockingham Post-Dispatch 1924

The previously mentioned article written by Mrs. Murdock also states that John Young was the Justice of the Peace in Buncombe County in 1813 and 28 Dec 1838 he was named as one of the commissioners to select the county seat for Henderson County. While I have yet to find any official records of being named a commissioner, I did find another article that backs her research up. (Disclaimer: I am not doubting her research. I'm just using it as a lead to do my own research and, unsurprisingly, I'm finding the same information). 



I'm not certain of the exact date of John's death but his will was signed 11 March 1850 and was proven in open court during the December term of that same year.

Below is my best attempt at the transcription of his will. I will highlight the portion that relates to my line - which was very beneficial in going one step further up the tree.


The last Will and Testament of John Young. In the name of God Amen. I, John Young of the County of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, being in my usual health but advanced age. And calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make ordain and establish this my last Will and Testament, inn manner and form following to wit by items

Item 1st - I will and desire that all my just debts be paid.

Item 2nd - I will and devise to my beloved wife Rosanna Young three hundred dollars in money, two beds, bed stands and furniture to be disposed of as she chooses.

Item 3rd - I will devise and bequeath to my daughter Jane Porter her heirs and assigns forever the tract of land on the North fork of Swannanoa River supposed to be one hundred and eighty acres being in three tracts, purchased by me from Francis Greer by referenced to which deed the boundaries there of will more fully appear. One copper mill now in possession of her husband Alexander Porter, and after the death of my wife Rosanna, one negro girl named Angeline and her increase should she have any.

Item 4th - I will devise and bequeath to my daughter in law Rebecca Young, widow of my son William, her heirs and assigns during her life or widowhood the tract of land on which she now lives, containing about two hundred and seven acres purchased by me from Levi Merrill and on her death or marriage, I will devise and bequeath that the said land be equally divided between Rosanna, Sarah, Jane, Thomas, Martha, Alla Melinda, Samuel and Mary Young, children of my said son William Young, their heirs and assigns forever.


Item 5th - I will and bequeath to my grandson Samuel P. Young his heirs and assigns one negro boy named George and a small rifle gun.

Item 6th - I will devise and bequeath to my son Thomas L. Young his heirs and assigns forever the tract of land on Swannanoa where he now lives which was purchased by me of John Patton, the boundaries of which will more fully appear by referenced to the deed of conveyance from said Patton to me. And one copper still now in his possession and a negro girl named Julia together with her increase and all my carpenter tools. I also will and bequeath to my said son T. L. Young during the natural life of my wife Rosanna five negros to wit Lucy, Spencer, Lowry, Angeline, Charlotte. All the stock of horses cattle, hogs and sheep. Wagon and geers (?) and farming tools of every kind. Household and kitchen furniture.

Item 7th - I will and bequeath to my grandson Samuel M. Young his heirs and assigns, a negro boy named Dick, and my large rifle gun.

Item 8th - I will and devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary M. Edmonston her heirs and assigns forever, the one half of the McCrary tract of land to be divided by commencing with the branch on which McCrary had a mill, crosses the North or North East line and sum wit the meander of the branch to the creek. And then to continue the same direction as the general course of the branch to the South line the part lying next to Tweeds to belong to the said Mary. And after the death of my wife Rosanna one negro boy named Sammy.(or maybe Lanny).

Item 9th - I will devise and bequeath to my grandchildren Willington Pattillo, John Pattillo, Samuel P. Pattillo their heirs and assigns forever the other or upper part of the McCrary tract of land joining the part given to Mary Edmonston in Item 8th and being the part of the McCrary tract of land not given to the said M Edmonson.

Item 10th - I will and bequeath to my two granddaughters Rosanna and Martha Pattillo their heirs and assigns, a negro girl named Louiza and her increase should she have any, to come into their possession after the death of my wife.

Item 11th - I will and bequeath to my granddaughter Martha Ann Edmondson her heirs and assigns, one negro girl named Caroline and her increase if any, to come to possession of the said Martha Ann after the death of my wife.

Item 12th - I will and bequeath to my daughter Mary M. Edmonson her heirs and assigns after the death of my wife, a negro woman named Lucy.

Item 13th - I will and bequeath after the death of my wife to my daughter in law Rebecca Young during her life or widowhood a negro girl named Charlotte and after her death or marriage the said girl and the increase after she comes to the possession of the said Mary (I think he meant to say Rebecca) to be divided among the same persons and in the same manner as the land mentioned in item 4th of this will directed to be divided.

Item 14th - I will and desire that all the rest of my property both real and personal be sold by executor at public sale on a credit of twelve months and the proceeds of such sales together with money and land debts ? me at my death. After paying my just debts and three hundred dollars bequeathed unto my wife be divided into five equal parts, and one part to be given to my daughter Jane Porter, one part to the children of my son William, one part to my son Thomas L., one part to Mary M. Edmonson. One part to the children of my daughter Nancy Pattillo deceased. I here by appoint Joshua Roberts my sole executor of this my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I here unto set my hand and seal the 11th day of March 1850

(Signed) John Young





If you're curious about these land deeds, a very beneficial resource was shared with me on the Ancestry Facebook group for anyone with ancestors in Buncombe County.

Going off the information in his will, we know the following about John's children: Jane married Alexander Porter, his son (my ancestor) William has already died but left a widow named Rebecca and the named children, Mary M. has married an Edmondson, Nancy married a Pattillo but she has already died, from the article I found I know that Martha died in '33 so that leaves a son named Samuel that isn't mentioned in the will at all. He must have died young as well, leaving no widow or children to inherit his portion.

Just an FYI:  Mary M. Young married James Edmondson. William (deceased) Young married James Edmondson's sister Rebecca Edmondson (my ancestor).

James and Rebecca's parent's were William and Sarah (Patton) Edmundson. John Young's was a witness to a deed between Thomas Hemphill and William Edmundson, dated Oct 1817. I cannot tell you if the Thomas Hemphill was John's FIL or BIL.

In an article found in the 1851 Fayetteville Weekly Observer there is a published court case between Miles Goforth vs John Young and Littleton Pattillo of Buncombe County, in Equity. The case was dismissed with costs. Was this Nancy's husband?

I think I have included all the information I have on our John. I hope if you're reading this and you have more to share, I would love it if you would leave a comment. I love hearing from and connecting with relatives of all distance.

Until next week,
Becky