The Players Part Two: The Moffetts, James

Household Members:

Name	Age
Thos H Boothe	52
Nancy Boothe	26
Henry Boothe	19
John Boothe	17
Wm Boothe	16
Jas Boothe	14
Jane Boothe	10
Robert Boothe	6
Margaret Boothe	4
Harriet Boothe	2
Caroline Boothe	3
Frances Boothe	1
Thos Boothe	24
Mary Boothe	20
Marth Dulana	9

Name:

Thomas Booth

Age in 1870:

Birth Year:

abt 1809

Birthplace:

Virginia

Home in 1870:

Township 8, Itawamba, Mississippi

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Post Office:

Fulton

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Thomas Booth	61
Nancy Booth	36
Jane Booth	18
Margaret Booth	14
Robert Booth	16
Harriet Booth	12
Emiline Booth	8
Alley Booth	6
Ollie Booth	4
Francis Booth	1

Thomas H Booth served as a Sergeant in the Confederate Army.

Name:	Thomas H Booth
Rank at enlistment:	Sergeant
State Served:	Mississippi
Service Record:	Enlisted in Company I, Mississippi 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
Sources:	Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records

Following is a Deposition Given by Susan, one of the two daughters Thomas Harper Booth had by his second wife, Mary Ann Farley:

1900 Susan Ann Booth Eaves deposition
Farley - Grimes GrantWritten: 1900Depositions of Susan Ann Eaves taken in cause No 2312 in the District Court ofCoryell County, Texas styled Susan Ann Eaves vs J.W. Letson et al filed 16th dayJany 1900.Said Depositions show that S.A. Eaves is 61 years of age, resides in Johnson County, Texas, is plaintiff in said cause, that she was never personally acquainted with Henry Farley, that he was her grandfather, that he is dead, and do not know when he died, that her grandmother is also dead, that Henry Farley had two children surviving him, Elmira and Mary Ann Jane, that Mary Ann Jane washer mother, Elmira was her aunt, that her mother died in Miss in 1854 was married once only to Thom H. Booth, that her father died in 1874 that her mother had eight children, Thos Harper, Jr, Susan Ann, Henry,John Washington, Willie Archie, James Madison, Elmira Jane and Robert Fletcher. Henry, Elmira Jane,James Madison and Susan Ann are living, the others are dead.Thos Harpers Jr. died in Miss in 1888, John Washington died during the Civil War, William Archer died during the Civil War, after being captured and carried North and do not know exectly when or where. Robert Fletcher died in Johnson County in 1896. Thos Harper Jr. and Robert Fletcher have been married, the other two who are dead were never married and leave no children. Thos Harper,Jr and Robt Fletcher both left children.John W. Booth and William A. Booth were my brothers, they died unmarried. My mother died without a will. I was married Nov 10th 1853 to C.C. Eaves. I have been living with my husband ever since, and am still living with him. The conveyance from Frederick M. Grimes and Elmira S. Grimes to my father was simply to give my mother her part of the land. I have frequently heard my mother referto this as hers.George W. Booth and John F. Booth the parties named, were my Fathers Brother's.They were acquainted with my Mother in her life time. I knew about Thos H. Booth and Nancy Booth making the deed above mentioned, some time after the deed was made I learned they received a negro and some money for it, but I do not know how much. Geo W. Booth and John F. Booth subsequently took this consideration back. The consideration referred to was returned to Geo W. and John F. Booth because Thos H. Booth could not make title to the land. The intentions in returning it was to call the trade off. I do not know that Geo W and John F.Booth agreed to do in order to procure the return of the consideration. The land referred to was the separate property of my mother. This conveyance inquired about was by my father and his second wife, Nancy. After making the deed my father wanted me and my brother, Thos H. Jr to ratify the conveyance and offerme a small tract of land for so doing. My brother and myself refused to do this and thereupon the consideration was returned and the trade was declared off because of this defect in the Title attempted to be conveyed by my Father and Nancy Booth.My Father claimed no interest in the land. The conveyance from Frederic M.Grimes and Elmira S. Grimes to my father was simply to give my Mother her par tof the land. I have frequently heard my father refer to this land as my mothers and never heard him claim it as his own and the land was always represented and understood to be the separate property of my mother.
The following is from an 1899 with mention of Thomas Harper Booth:

Booth-Farley 1899 deed
Farley - Grimes GrantWritten: 1899Affidavit of Jane B. WiggleDated March 13th, 1890Filed for record June 23, 1899Recorded in Vol 23 page 267 in office of the County Clerk Coryell County, TexasState of MississippiCounty of ItawambaPersonally appeared before the undersigned authority Mrs. Jane B. Wiggle whobeing duly sworn on oath says: I am the daughter of Mary J. Booth and my motherwas a daughter of Henry Farley to whom was granted a survey of land in CoryellCounty, Texas, Mary J. Booth who was the wife of T.H. Booth.Mary J. Booth died without leaving a will about the 1st day of Feby 1854 inCounty of Itawamba State of Mississippi, T.H. Booth her hsuband died withoutleaving any will about the 29th day of Jany 1874, in the county of ItawambaState of Mississippi, affiant further says that Mary J. and T.H. Booth had onlyeight children who are as follows to wit:1st Susan Ann Booth who married C.C. Eaves and who now resides in the County ofJohnson, State of Texas2nd T.H. Booth who died about the ---- day of Dec 1888 in the County of Lee,State of Miss and left surviving 4 children.3rd Henry Farley Booth now living in Itawamba Co MIS4th John W. Booth who died in the Civil War in 1863-4 and who was never married.5th Wm. P. Booth who died in 1863 in the Civil War and was never married.6th James M. Booth who now resides in Johnson Co, Texas7th Jane B. Booth this affiant who married C.C. Wiggle and resides in ItawambaCounty, MS8th Robert F. Booth who died 5 or 6 years ago and who left surviving children. Affiant says tht the above named children are the sole and only heirs of Mary J.Booth.Jane B. WiggleSworn to and subscribed before me this the 13th day of March A.D. 1899.J.S. Davis, clerkAdditional Comments:Henry Farley was father of Mary Ann Jane Farley who married Thomas Harper Booth around 1833 (probably in Lawrence Co. AL) and Elmira Susan who married F.M. Grimes (Washington Co TX). Henry and wife, Nancy White, and daughter, Elmira Susan Farley left for Texas in 1831.Henry applied for a Texas Land Grant, but died in 1834 before he could receive the title.Daughter, Elmira S. married Frederick M. Grimes. He was administrator on Henry Farley estate and applied for the title to one league and one labor of land Henry Farley had been granted. This application was approved Aug 2, 1828 in San Felipe de Austin.Nancy Ellen White Farley remarried in 1834 to Henry Hudson. She died in 1838.This deed is confusing because Thomas Harper Booth whose 3rd wife was named Nancy, also had a son, Thomas Harper Booth, Jr. . However, Thomas H. Booth, Jr. married Dec 12, 1854 (after this deed of Sept 1854) to Mary Virginia Priddy.The land was located on the Leon River in what is now Coryell County, Texas. These deeds are recorded in Coryell County.Thomas H. and Mary Booth has these children as proven by deeds in Itawaba County and Coryell County pertaining to this inherited Farley Land GrantThomas H. Booth, Jr.Henry Farley BoothJohn W. Booth (deceased by 1867 deeds - may have died in Civil War)William Archie Booth (deceased by 1867 deeds - died in Civil War)Pvt Co H 1st M Inf captured Feb 16, 1862 Ft. Donelson. Died Mar 4, 1862 CampMorton IN. Remived to lot 285 section 32 Crown Hill Cem Confed reintered on Oct27, 1931.James Madison BoothJohn F. BoothGeorge W. Booth

The following is an account of the Booths in Texas, how Thomas eloped with his second wife and how she became depressed in Texas.
THOMAS HARPER BOOTH AND MARY ANN JANE FARLEY "ELOPED"
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Farley, Henry F. 1790 - 1834File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:Virginia Crilley http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000642 September 21, 2007, 11:56 amAuthor: Virginia Crilley
Mary Ann Jane Farley "eloped" with Thomas Harper Booth around 1833 (probablyin Lawrence Co. AL). Thomas had previously been married to This couple moved around quite a bit, living in Itawamba County, MS (about 60miles west of Lawrence, AL), and even in Texas, Austin Co. for short periods oftime.Family story, "Mary Ann cried for a whole year because they had no slaves to dothe work in Texas."Mary Ann and Thomas Harper had six sons and two daughters.Elmira Susan married Frederick Miller Grimes of Washington Co. Tx on Jan 29,1838, probably at the home of her mother, Nancy living in nearby Austin County.They settled on their farm on the county line of Washington/Austin.Nancy Ellen White Farley, remarried around 1838 to Henry ? /Obadiah?/JoshHudson. The court records show that Nancy appointed Isaac M. Pennington topursue her husband's Texas Land Grant. The courts ruled in favor of thedaughters, and Frederick M. Grimes proceeded with the land claim.Family story: When Nancy Ellen died (aft 1838) her daughter Elmira Susancouldn't attend the funeral because of the high creeks due to heavy rains.As "heirs of Henry Farley" the daughters received land in what is now CoryellCounty In 1850 when Fort Gates (later Gatesville) was set-up with soldiers toprotect the settlers, Elmira and Frederick moved there.In 1852 they sold this land to their son, Samuel, and moved to land in thesoutheast corner of Coryell County.Several deeds are made with the joint signatures of Elmira and Mary Jane andtheir respective husbands.http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/austin/austoc.htm

↧

Ellerslie

April 28, 2013, 5:33 am

≫ Next: Who was Janet Mumford?

≪ Previous: The Booth Saga continues: Thomas Harper Booth, Sr.

In her book "Hometown Heritage, Vol One", Lucille Miller Johnson writes that "Ellerslie is located on Elliot's Bridge Road several miles off North Carolina Highway 401, about ten miles north of Fayetteville, It is believed to be the oldest plantation home in Cumberland County lived in continuously by members of the same family. A definite date of construction has not been established, but it is believed to be around 1790".

Ellerslie was the home of Dr. William H. Maffett, and is recorded so in the journals of many historic figures, including his nephew, Col John Newland Maffett, Jr., a famed Seaman. Below is a link to John Newland Maffet's Find-a-grave site.

Find-a-grave Cmd. John Newland Maffett

Other sources have it linked to the Elliott family. No doubt the estate is old. I will have to look into deeds and see when it exchanged hands or when the Maffett family may have intermarried with or morphed into the Elliott family. A visit to Ellerslie is definately in order. It appears the home was first built by George Elliott and then occupied by Dr. Maffett and later Florie, his great-niece. Dr. Maffett was married to Margaret Adams, and not an Elliott. Were these Elliott's related to Rebecca Booth Elliott mentioned in a previous post? The mysteries continue.

From Cultural Heritage Trails:

Gaelic Beginnings

b) Ellerslie - Elliot Bridge Rd.

Ellerslie has been the homeplace of the Elliott family since 

settling on the state granted land in 1790. By 1801, the plantation had grown in size to more than 5,000 acres. George 

Elliot, founder of the American family, was educated at University of Edinburgh and immigrated from Scotland to settle 

on the Lower Little River in the Upper Cape Fear Valley. He 

represented Cumberland County at the Hillsboro Convention 

in 1788. His son Alexander represented Cumberland County 

in the North Carolina Legislature in 1826. The home highlights eighteenth century domestic architecture of the area. 

The original appearance of the home was altered with a 

Greek Revival addition in the 1850s. Private.

Created Date:

circa 1790

Provenance: George Elliot (Scots planter), first owner | Architectural Note: In the 1840s, a new Greek Revival house was added to the front of the existing home, which became a rear ell. | Historical Note: The home is one of the few late eighteenth century plantation houses along the Upper Cape Fear River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service:

National Register of Historic Places:

Thorbiskope is similar in form to many other houses along the Cape Fear, and throughout the

coastal plain of North Caroina. It is similar to the houses built by George Elliot (Ellerslie,

ca. 1797, NR) and Henry Elliot (Cool Springs, ca. 1815, NR) nearby.

From the "290 Foundation: Ancestors"

Mary 'Florie' Maffitt

Her name was Mary Florence Maffitt though better known as Florie Maffitt. Daughter of John Newlands Maffitt and his wife Mary, Florie was born in Mobile, Alabama in February 1841 although news of his daughter’s birth, only reached her father when he arrived in Pensacola, Florida. John Newland Maffitt immediately sent for his wife and daughter Florie to come and live with him while he was on a three-month leave.

On August 3, 1852, when Florie was eleven years old, her father married Caroline Laurens Read, a South Carolinian whose late husband was also an officer in the navy. They were married in St. Paul’s Church in Charleston, and Caroline then took on the care of Florie and her brother while their father was at sea. Her stepmother taught Florie how to dress and act in front of people and in the many social skills required at Washington gatherings.

Following the death of her stepmother, Florie’s father moved her to Ellerslie Estate, the home of Dr. William Maffitt, brother of the senior John Maffitt near Fayetteville, North Carolina. The estate got its name from the Maffitt ancestral home in Dublin, Ireland, and Ellerslie stood on a high elevation near the head of Blount’s Creek, about half way between Fayetteville and present-day Fort Bragg. In a new home and being close to family once again, Florie’s life gained a new purpose and renewed energy and totally enjoyed her stay in the countryside She would make many trips to Wilmington or Fayetteville to visit her father when he came in port, or to shop at the fine places that Wilmington had to offer to such a young lady. Then came war; and her father’s new assignments in the Confederate Navy took him away for longer periods

Before the Civil War ended, Florie met the man who captured her heart. His name was Joshua Wright. The Wrights were a well-known Wilmington family which in years to come, alongwith the Maffitts, would shape the future of Wilmington as one of the best seaports on the East Coast for shipping goods. On February 17, 1864, Florie and Joshua married in St. JoFebruary 17, 1864, Florie and Joshua married in St. John’s Church, Fayetteville, North Carolina and in the years following had six children: James Allen, John Maffitt, Joshua Grainger, Thomas Henry, Mary Allen and Caroline Lauren. Florie and her husband would often travel to their estate in Cork County, Ireland after the war, and visit members of the Maffitt family residing there. She also traveled to the Middle East, meeting kings and queens who knew of Captain Maffitt’s reputation on the high seas and his work with the British merchant navy after the close of war.

Florie Maffitt remains an important part of Wilmington’s unique history. Probably her full story will never be known but we do know from the foregoing that she was a brave woman and a fine example of courage to other women. She was a loving daughter to a man who taught her the secrets of the sea. Florie changed many lives and challenged much conventional thinking of her time. In her father’s twilight years (and unknowingly hers), she was already a truly inspirational figure in our history.

Condensed from an article by Bob Maffitt, Hon Vice-President (US), 290 Foundation, Wilmington N.C.

The Water Cure

A plaque emplaced by Malvern Civic Society at Ellerslie records that,

Ellerslie was the water cure establishment of Drs Edward and Walter Johnson.(son)

Here Thomas Attwood the Birmingham political reformer died in 1856.

Thomas Attwood 1783 - 1856 was the first Member of Parliament for Birmingham.

Dr Johnson and his son later moved their business across the road to Malvernbury.

In 1911 Ellerslie was occupied by widow Julia Caroline Colt nee Hutton.

Coachman Adam Anderson lived at Ellerslie Cottage, and gardener Robert Scott lived at Ellerslie Lodge.

Julia Colt's husband Captain George Frederick Russell Colt died Great Malvern in 1909. In 1881 his occupation had been recorded as proprietor of the Gartsherrie Estate, Roxburgh, Scotland.

Mary Florence "Florie" Maffett Wright

hn’s Church, Fayetteville, North Carolina and in the years following had six children: James Allen, John Maffitt, Joshua Grainger, Thomas Henry, Mary Allen and Caroline Lauren. Florie and her husband would often travel to their estate in Cork County, Ireland after the war, and visit members of the Maffitt family residing there. She also traveled to the Middle East, meeting kings and queens who knew of Captain Maffitt’s reputation on the high seas and his work with the British merchant navy after the close of war.

Florie and Joshua along with their children lived on John Maffitt’s estate until her untimely death in 1883. Maffitt was at her bedside at the time of her passing and is reported to have endured a massive hemorrhage of blood from his nose.
Florie Maffitt remains an important part of Wilmington’s unique history. Probably her full story will never be known but we do know from the foregoing that she was a brave woman and a fine example of courage to other women. She was a loving daughter to a man who taught her the secrets of the sea. Florie changed many lives and challenged much conventional thinking of her time. In her father’s twilight years (and unknowingly hers), she was already a truly inspirational figure in our history.

Condensed from an article by Bob Maffitt, Hon Vice-President (US), 290 Foundation, Wilmington N.C.

The above was the origins of the Ellerslie estate in Ireland.

From:

The Stuff of Legends

by Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr.

February 2009

Soon after making landfall in New York, the Maffitts moved to New England, where young John lived the first five years of his life. But he spent several happy boyhood years at Ellerslie, the plantation home of an uncle, Dr. William Maffitt, near Fayetteville, North Carolina, as well. It was a Southern exposure that would greatly influence his life.

Dr. Maffitt, who had accompanied his brother’s family to America in 1819, adopted young John when his mother and father separated in 1824.

↧

Who was Janet Mumford?

April 30, 2013, 10:23 pm

≫ Next: The Norris Family of Lake Charles, LA

≪ Previous: Ellerslie

Who was Janet Mumford?

The first I heard of her was from this mention in the 1824 Fayetteville Observer, from Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina.

October 14, 1824

Died on Tuesday last, at the summer residence of Dr. William Maffet near this town, Mrs. Janet Mumford

It seemed natural that she would just have been a patient that Dr. Mumford was treating, but could not save. However, her name came up again.

In an inquiry to an out-of-town resource and the reply of a very kind librarian:

I was only able to find a William Maffet and James Maffet as executor and witness (respectively) to a will for Janet

Mumford in 1824 in Cumberland County.

I have this document on order, wherein both Maffets are seen together again, as witness and executor, for this ladies will.

She was evidently an important person in their lives. In an effort to definitely establish the relationship between both Dr William H. Moffett/Maffett and Dr. James Moffett/Maffet, whom I believe were brothers, due to the closeness of relationship and age, but of which relationship, I have no exact proof, I've decided to find out a little bit about Janet Mumford. Was she just a friend of these two gentlemen? Or was she something more?

James Mumford
Gender:	Male
Spouse:	Jannett Adam
Spouse Gender:	Female
Bond Date:	23 Jul 1807
Bond #:	000034322
Level Info:	North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum:	000055
County:	Cumberland
Record #:	02 223
Bondsman:	Robinson Mumfor; Stephen Gilmore

Name:	Robinson Mumford Jr
Gender:	Male
Spouse:	Susanah Wingate
Spouse Gender:	Female
Bond Date:	14 Jun 1816
Bond #:	000034323
Level Info:	North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum:	008820
County:	Cumberland
Record #:	02 223
Bondsman:	Jas. Mumford

Name:	Jannett Mumford
Home in 1820 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina
Enumeration Date:	August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44:	2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over :	1
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14:	1
Slaves - Males - Under 14:	1
Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25:	5
Slaves - Males - 45 and over:	3
Slaves - Females - Under 14:	2
Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25:	2
Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44:	1
Slaves - Females - 45 and over:	3
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:	6
Number of Persons - Engaged in Manufactures:	1
Free White Persons - Under 16:	1
Free White Persons - Over 25:	5
Total Free White Persons:	8
Total Slaves:	17
Total Free Colored Persons:	1
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:	26

Name:	Robeson Mumford [Roberon Mumford]
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:	1
Free White Persons - Females:	4
Number of Slaves :	6
Number of Household Members:	12

NAME: Polly Mumford EdwardsSPOUSE: William BurtOTHER: Mumford RobinsoOTHER: 7 Dec 1819 - Cumberland, North Carolina, USA

From the 1815 Taxable List of Fayetteville, Cumberland County:

Adam, John R. 1 free poll; 6 slaves, 1 unimproved 1/4 acre lot; 1 same on Maiden Lane - 40

for Mumford, Jannett 12 slaves, 1 dwelling house - 1200
7 acres on Maiden lane Coopers Shop - 400

Adam, Robert estate 1 lot corner of Green & Old Street - 1500
store warehouse & barber shop
1 lot Hay Street occupied by N. Branson - 1200
1 same by P.J. Tillinghast - 1700
1 same by Hugh McGuire - 2000
1 same by James Coleman - 1000
1 same by Edmund Blake - 1000
1 same by Compting House - 400

Mumford, Jannett see Adam, John R.
Mumford, Robinson 12 slaves, 12 slaves in town, 1 dwelling house - 1000
about 120 acres of land within the city limits of town - 300
1 lot Mumford Street occupied by George the Barter - 40
1 Person Street tobacco warehouse - 300
for Robinson Mumford Sr. 1 lot Mumford Street - 800
Mumford, Robinson, Sr. see Mumford, Robinson

In the deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, a paper trail has been left to trace the origins of Mrs. Jannett Mumford. Book 23, p 129

James Mumford and Jannet Adam

Know all men by these presents that whereas a marriage is intended to be shortly had and solemnized between Jannette Adams, widow and relict of the late Robert Adams of the town of Fayetteville, Merchant and James Mumford, now of the same.

The document continues and is a marriage contract between James Mumford, son of Robinson Mumford, a prominent counsel in Fayetteville, and Jannett, a widow of considerable property by this point.

Jannett Adams
Spouse:	James Mumford
Marriage Date:	23 Jul 1807
Marriage County:	Cumberland
Marriage State:	North Carolina
Source:	County Court Records at Fayetteville, NC & Family

So who was Robert Adams, the deceased husband of Jannett Adams Mumford?

Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company

Organized August 23, 1793

"He That Hath No Stomach To This Fight Let Him Depart"

There was soon talk of war with England and the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry was organized as the European was situation threatened to involve the United States. It was organized on August 23, 1793 and Robert Adam was elected Captain, John Winslow was elected Lieutenant and Robert Cochran was elected Ensign. Throughout its' history the F.I.L.I. has always remained a "corps of gentlemen."

In this area, there was a strong, successful merchant class consisting of prominent figures such as Andrew Broadfoot, Robert Adam, James Hogg and Robert Donaldson.
from the Fayetteville Visitors Center site.

Recorded: August 6, 1801

                  EXECUTOR'S NOTICE
   Notice is hereby given, that the Subscribers, at the July term of 
Cumberland County Court,  qualified as Executors, of the Estate of ROBERT 
ADAM, ESQ,deceased, merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington,  those indebted 
to said estate are requested to make payment immediately, and those having 
claims against said estate are notified to present them duly authenticated 
within the time prescribed by law or this notice will be plead in bar of their 
recovery.
Fayetteville,      DUNCAN M'LERAN
July 17            JOHN WINSLOW
                   SAM GOODWIN
                   JOHN ECCLES
                   JOHN HOGG, Executors

From UNC Libraries Collections:

Tombstone of Robert Adam

John Hogg (1765-1826) was a merchant of Hillsborough and Wilmington, N.C. The collection consists of account books of mercantile businesses in Hillsborough, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Wilmington, N.C., in which John Hogg was associated at various times with Andrew Adie, Robert Adam, William Meng, Robert Halliday, and his brother James Hogg. These volumes give only a partial record of Hogg's operations, but from them it appears that Hogg and Company was the chief exporter and importer of the group, with the other firms primarily engaged in local business in general merchandise. There are two letter books: one for Hogg and Company, 1799-1803, and another for Hogg and Meng, 1803-1806.
Creator Hogg, John, 1765-1826.

Robert Adam(s) was born in Greenock, Scotland and is buried at Cross Creek Cemetery Number One in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Stone reads:
Robert Adam
a native of Greenock in Scotland
for many years a merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C. who departed this life 11th of June 1801, aged 42
"kind husband and affectionate parent"
(died at Wrightsville Beach,NC)

From:

Front Cover

Biographical History of North Carolina from Colonial Times to the ..., Volume 4

By Samuel A'Court Ashe

"Robert Adam was the first captain of the Fayetteville Light Infantry, which was organized on the 23rd of August, 1793. He was a Fayetteville merchant, characterized by the thrift and steadfastness of his nationality; but the old records represent him as a man of liberal views and public spirit, and especially devoted to his command,never begrudging his time or the contents of his purse in the promotion of its interests on imposing occasions - parades, celebrations, etc.

It sounds like Jannett married well. Robert was a successful merchant in Fayetteville for sometime, but shortly before his death, he moved to Wilmington and set up shop there, enjoying a country home on Wrightsville Beach. He died in the prime of his life, at age 42, on June 11, 1801. Originally, he was buried at Wilmington, but eventually, his remains were exhumed and he was replanted in the famed Cross Creek Cemetery of Fayetteville.

Robert Adam and Jannett had 3 young children: John R Adam, Eliza Ann Adam and Margaret Jane Adam. And therein is the connection to Dr. William H Maffett. Margaret Jane was his wife.

The old book tells the poetic, original epitah of Robert Adam:

"Beneath this stone are deposited the mortal remains of Robert Adam, a native of Greenock, Scotland, and for many years a merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington, who departed this life June 11, 1801, aged 42 years. He was universally beloved and regretted. In his conduct and deportment through life was combined all that should adorn the Christian character and constitute the honorable man, the kind husband and affectionate parent.

"Stranger welcome to the scene

The last in Natures Course

The first in Wisdoms' thought"

Further deeds tell the story:

Robert Adams Dec, A Divison to John R Adam + Others

Book 39 page 24

to Partion the real estate of Robert Adam, decsd among his heirs at law...John R Adam...intersection of Burges and Old Street...running with Hay St.....to William H Moffitt in right of his wife Margaret....Lot of Land situated on Hay Street in the said town of Fayetteville, now occupied by Charles and P Mallet, Joshua W Cochran and P + S W Tillinghast (there's that Tillinghast name again..see posts on Jordan Howell). ....to John A Cameron + Mary, his daughter.

Note: Eliza Ann Adam had married the much older John A Cameron to her dismay. Records of her attempted suicide by taking an overdose of landulum, exist in her school records at Mordecai Female Academy in Warrenton, North Carolina. She survived, and the marriage took place, followed by the arrival of daughter Mary Elizabeth Cameron in 1815. The birth of the child did not lift her spirits, she died during a visit to Greenock, Scotland at the home of a relative, still only 19 years old.

But, what was Janet's maiden name? When she married James Mumford, she was a widow.

There also exists a deed from John R Adams trustees to Margaret Adams Guardians. Duncan McLeran and John Winslow were appointed guardians of the minor Margaret Jane Adams when her father died. Jannett was not guardian of her own child.

There is a deed from 1807 where the property of Jannett Adams is assigned an Inventory, this deed was signed by John Hay, Robinson Mumford and Samuel Goodwin, all important people in the life of Jannett.

In the July term of court, 1790, is another marriage contract. This one between Robert Adam and Jannet Burgis:

"Know all men by these presents that whereas a marriage is intended to be shortly had and solemnized between Jannet Burges, relict of James Burgess, Esquire, deceased and Robert Adam, merchant, both of Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland and the state of North Carolina"

Wait a minute, ...relict...deceased...so Jannett was a widow, also when she married Robert Adam? So, what was her maiden name? How many times was this chick, the mother-in-law of Dr. William H Moffitt, married?

There are many deeds and sells of land involving the deceased James Burges(s). Several of the later ones involve a young lady named Jane. Sometimes her name is seen as Janet or Jessie . The deeds proclaim her as the daughter of James Burges and Jannett.

Cumberland  NC  Deed Book  26-336
16 Jan 1811  Samuel Goodwin of Raliegh, Wake co. to JOHN SMITH, mcht of
Fayetteville, land in Fayetteville.  s/ S Goodwin.  w/ R Raeford, John
McLenan, James Boyle.

Cumberland  NC  Deed Book  26-337
16 Jan 1811  Samuel Goodwin of Raliegh, Wake co. to JOHN SMITH, mcht of
Fayetteville, land in Fayetteville.  s/ S Goodwin.  w/ R Raeford, John
McLenan, James Boyle.

The 1801 will of Robert Adam mentions his step-daughter, Jessi Goodwin, wife of

Samuel Goodwin.

The 1824 will of Jannett Mumford mentions Grandsons Robert Goodwin and William

Goodwin.

This explains the connection to the Goodwins. There were several instances wherein Goodwins are involved in the deeds and witnesses to marriages of the rest of the family.

And then, it took me a while, but I found several deeds of a James Hogg to Janet Burgis.

In the book

Directory of Scots in the Carolinas

By David Dobson

James Burges Born in Scotland. Married Janet Hogg. Father of Jane.

Merchant in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Further research revealed that James was also a merchant in Edinburgh, Scotland and emigrated from Greenock, Renfrewshire to North Carolina aboard the Ulysess. His first wife was a Margaret Hogg. Probably a sister to Jannett.

John Hogg, Merchant of Fayetteville

Which brings us to another member of the Merchant class of Cumberland County, John Hogg, another Scott and father of Jannett.

So who was Jannett Mumford?

Daughter of John Hogg, Merchant

Wife of James Burgess, Merchant and mother of Jane Jessie Burgess Goodwin.

Wife of Robert Adam, Merchant and Patriot and mother of John R Adam, Eliza Ann Adam Cameron and Margaret Jane Adam Maffett.

Wife of James Mumford, son of Robinson Mumford.

And mother-in-law of Dr. William H. Maffett.

↧

The Norris Family of Lake Charles, LA

May 11, 2013, 12:29 pm

≫ Next: The Kernachan's

≪ Previous: Who was Janet Mumford?

While researching the Kernachans, I came across this brief obituary for W. B. Norris, of Lake Charles, La, who was buried in Lauderdale County, Alabama. The obituary states that the deceased was a first cousin of Dr. J. W. Kernachan of Florence and J. W. Kernachan of Colbert County. It's from the Monday, January 10, 1910 edition of the Montgomery Advertiser of Montgomery, Alabama

Lake Charles, Louisiana has a famous son who is a Norris, a fellow by the first name of Chuck. I wondered if there was any relation.

Now I had to find out who W. B. Norris was.

Name:

Wm. B. Norris

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1838

Birthplace:

New Hampshire

Home in 1880:

Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Relation to Head of House:

Self (Head)

Marital Status:

Married

Spouse's Name:

Anna E. Norris

Father's Birthplace:

New Hampshire

Mother's Birthplace:

New Hampshire

Neighbors:

Occupation:

Saw Milling

Cannot read/write:

Blind:

Deaf and dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Wm. B. Norris	42
Anna E. Norris	33

I found the Norris's in the 1880 census of Lake Charles. William B and wife Anna E. Check. It said his occupation was Saw Milling. They make it sound so simple.

But how was he connected to the Kernachans?

In "Lineage of Biographies of the Norris family in America from 1640 - 1892" by Leonard Allison Morrison on p 99.

956 William Norris (6) (Maj. William 5, Josiah 4, James 3, Moses 2, Nicholas 1,) He was born in Nottingham, N H Sept 20 1804, was always a farmer. Resised on the home farm until 1870, when he removed to Hampton, NH where he lived in 1890. Is a Baptist, and in politics a republican. He married May 11, 1880, Abigail, dau. of Asa and Sally (Lawrence) Cartland, of Lee, N. H. Mrs. Norris was born in Exeter, June 7 1811 died in Hampton, NH Sept. 1, 1885.
Children born in Nottingham, N H
957 Laura A b Mar 11, 1831 teacher, res. Hampton, NH
958 Sias L b April 1, 1833, home, the world, no further record
960 William B Norris b Feb 14, 1838 Merchant, res. West Lake, LA he married Annie E Jones on
Nov 16, 1865
961 James W Norris b Sept 10, 1840 m Feb 18, 1873 Sally M Slade, was a Merchant, res. Rice, TX w
where he died Feb 20, 1882.

So there were the surnames in William B Norris's family tree, Norris, Cartland, Lawrence...I see no Kernachan in the mix.

William B. Norris

Then I found this brief article on the Find-a-Grave site of William B Norris. The following census record was 20 years prior, in the home of his parents.

Name:

William B Norris

Age in 1860:

Birth Year:

abt 1838

Birthplace:

New Hampshire

Home in 1860:

Nottingham, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Gender:

Male

Post Office:

Nottingham

Value of real estate:

1865-1866 Tax List of Lauderdale County, Alabama

Household Members:

Name	Age
William Norris	55
Abigail L Norris	49
Laura A Norris	28
Sias L Norris	27
Abbott Norris	24
William B Norris	22
James W Norris	19
Betsey Norris	57
Ebenezer Chritcherson	55
Jacob Hull	55

The Kernachans were not of New Hampshire. I don't see the familial connection. The above biography also left out a few children. There is Laura, the teacher, Sias the world traveler, William B, the Lumber Merchant and James the Texas merchant. But there is an Abbott that the biographer forgot about.

There is quite a bit of information available on Mr. William B Norris. He made his mark in Lake Charles:

The History of Lake Charles

(transcribed by Leora White, May 2006)

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

By Stewart Alfred Ferguson

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS

March, 1931

CHAPTER FOUR

AN EPOCH OF WOOD

One of these was established by W. B. Norris in l866 at what is now called Norris’ Point, where the Calcasieu River runs by the northwest corner of Lake Charles. His first mill was quite small, but the demand for lumber became so great in 1872 that he replaced the small one with a large, double mill, running two circulars. It burned in 1873, but it was immediately replaced. The new mill continued without interruption, save for repairs, until January, 1888, when it burned. It was then replaced by a larger one. Norris was the first man on the Calcasieu River to put in a planer and the first on to use a band saw. (43)

W. B Norris is also mentioned in the history of West Lake, which is the community in which he settled and ran his lumber business.

HISTORY: CITY OF WESTLAKE

In 1857, King's Mill was in operation on the west bank of the Calcasieu River. In 1881, Allen J. Perkins bought the site from W.B Norris, and Westlake began to boom. Westlake really became a defined community in 1888 when Mr. Perkins, a lumberman who operated a sawmill with Charles Miller, subdivided 160 acres just north of where the Interstate 10 bridge now stands. By this time, the community consisted of a commissary, school, barbershop, saloon and syrup mill. There was also a small post office, a number of dwellings, and a steamboat that shuttled people, livestock, merchandise and materials back and forth from Westlake to Lake Charles. This was about the same time the Louisiana Western Railroad ( now Union Pacific) was being built across south Louisiana.

A biography of Charles Miller of Westlake, of the firm of Perkins and Miller, who was born in Sweden, says that he was a engineer on merchant steamers before coming to Westlake, where he worked with Mr. W. B. Norris for 5 years before forming a partnership with A J Perkins and becoming the competition of Mr Norris.

In the National Lumberman, Vol. 5, page 42, it states that W. H. Norris, a well-known lumber dealer, spent a number of days in Lake Charles attending to the affairs of his uncle, Captain W. B. Norris. William B Norris apparently died without having had children.

W. H. Norris, nephew of W. B. Norris and administrator of his estate.

The W. B. Norris home courtesy of lousianalibraries. com

Partial caption by Maude Reid: "Capt. Norris was one of the pioneer mill men in this section. His home on Norris' Point (a little strip of land that was thrust out into the Calcasieu river between Lake Charles and Westlake) was considered a very fine one for those days."

According to the book :

The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer, Volume 1

W. B. Norris also bought a boiler and entered into another business, The Cresent Brewing Company.

In an interview of the era, Mr. Norris stated that his Uncle had advised him to not keep all of his eggs in one basket.

Recently in an article called 'Sawdust on the Lake' in the Jambalaya News, Mr. Mike Louviere states:

And new millers were coming into the area, such as W.B. Norris. In 1866, Norris built his mill on the river where it runs by the northwest corner of Lake Charles. It is now called Norris Point. His first mill was small, but in 1872, he replaced it with a large double mill, running two large circular saws.

Fire was the bane of sawmills and his mill burned in 1873. He immediately replaced it, but the newer mill burned in 1878. Undeterred, he replaced it with an even larger mill. Norris was the first man on the Calcasieu River to install a planer and to use a band saw.

The information given in an autobiograpy of the "Father of Westlake", Allen Jefferson Perkins, Sr., who was the Perkins that the above mentioned Charles Miller went into partnership with after leaving the employ of W. B. Norris, it states that Mr. Perkins and Mr. Miller purchased the mill on Westlake from W. B. Norris and expanded it into the largest lumber mill in the area.

During the time Perkins and Miller had their sawmill, a historian named Perrin wrote about the small village of Westlake as "having several nice residences and quite a number of comfortable little cottages. It has a large mill - Perkins and Miller - the store of A J Perkins, Sr and the store of W B Norris, as well as the saloon of H Escoubas. There is a Baptist Church and a school of about 30 scholars. Mr. Escoubas is building a very handsome hotel of about 20 rooms there. Besides these, Mr Perkins is the sole owner of almost three continuous miles of land."

In 1892 the journal of Perkins and Miller had an entry which said, "The officers of Perkins and Miller Lumber Company have agreed to purchase the perkins General Merchandise Store, including buildings, warehouses, store fixtures, safe, in fact everything connected to it except accounts receivable. A sum of $9000 will be paid to A J Perkins Sr. The store's location is bounded on the north side by land owned by Mrs. Anna (W B) Norris on the east side of the Calcasieu River, on the west by property of A J Perkins, Sr, and on the south by Perkins Street."

W. B. Norris is mentioned in multiple business publications of the era, and in several journals of legal proceedings. Example in the following document:

Official Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the ...

By Louisiana. Legislature. House of Representatives

D. A. Perkins writes to the Honorable Mr. A. Vincent that his friend W. B. Norris has asked him to send a copy of a legislative proposal under cover to Westlake. The gentlemen of the Louisiana lumber business had a strong hand in politics as well as in business.

Another famous Lake Charles Norris.

So.....how does W. B. Norris qualify as a cousin to the Kernachans? The answer has to be that he was a cousin by marriage. The clues are in the names and the places.

Name:	Anna Eliza Jones
Spouse:	Wm B. Norris
Marriage Date:	16 Nov 1865
Marriage Pace:	Caddo

William B Norris married Anna Eliza Jones, daughter of James Jones in 1865 in Caddo, Louisiana.

The Jones family was heavily married into the Booth family. The same Booth family of which Mariah Booth Winfield Moffett Booth was a member of. The same Booth family in which Martha Booth Kernachan was a member of. The same Booth family in which Vinkler H. Jones, the 'next best friend' of Mariah in her divorce proceedings from her first cousin and member of this same Booth family, who moved to Caddo, Louisiana.

While Anna Eliza Jones Norris had her husband's remains sent to her hometown in Florence, Alabama, to be interred, she herself was laid to rest in Calcasieu Parrish, Louisiana, where her husband's businesses had been located. She seemed to be under the care, in her old age, of a Pomeroy family, and is buried in their family plot. Annie <i>Jones</i> Norris

While she was buried in Louisiana, she did not die there. This family had a tendency to 'get around', even in death. That's why I've had such a grievous time in researching them.

Annie Jones, cousin of the Kernachan's, died in Santa Rosa, Texas, of Cancer of the Stomach and Cardiac exhaustion of the ripe old age of 85. Mrs. Charles R Pomeroy, whom she is buried with, was the informant. Mrs. Pomeroy had made some errors, but also had enough right to identify the connection to the Kernachans. James Carey Jones was her father. He and her mother Matilda Bloomfield Kernachan Jones are buried in the Kernachan cemetery in Muscle Shoals, Colbert County, Alabama.

Link to Kernachan cemetery, Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Annie Norris is named as the mother-in-law to Charles Richard Pomeroy, making Annie B Pomeroy, her daughter.

The 1870 census gives a hint as to how Annie Jones met W. B. Norris. In the census, James Carey Jones and wife, Matilda B Kernachan Jones, with younger children, William and Sally, and an unknown Jones, Lula, are living in Gavelston, Texas, Annie and her husband William B are living with her parents, and both husband and father are listed as Lumber Dealers. A young girl, Jane Norris, is also in the household. Annie is not old enough to be her mother, however, so she is another unknown relative.

So, I have discovered how W. B Norris was counted as a Kernachan cousin, through his wife, Annie Jones, daughter of Matilda Kernachan Jones.

↧

The Kernachan's

May 13, 2013, 3:12 am

≫ Next: The Will of Robert Kernachan, Sr.

≪ Previous: The Norris Family of Lake Charles, LA

In researching my last post, Who was Jannett Mumford, I came across a lot of Scotch and Irish settlers, who arrived prior or during the time of the American Revolution and immediately became patriots. These sons of Eire or Scotia were not down-trodden, half-starved refugees of a potato famine, but educated and skilled craftsmen, doctors, lawyers, merchants and gentlemen farmers, like Robert Adam, the Maffetts, John Hogg, and many others. They came and married and did business with the sons of Quakers and daughters of Virginians. Patrick married Patience, Duncan married Phobe and all as well and the fabric of America was being woven.

William Malone

The Kernahans of Lauderdale County, Alabama were no different. They were not a large family, there was Abraham and Robert. Although I have not yet came across a document that identifies them as such, they were probably brothers.

In the 19 page Divorce Settlement of Dr. George Washington Booth and his wife Mariah Booth Winfield Maffett Booth, Robert Kernachan is a major player. It is to him, the trusteeship of the property of Mariah Booth and her daughter Mary Ann Maffett, is given, after it is taken from Dr. Booth and from Mariah's former brother-in-law, Dr. William H Maffett of Fayetteville.

Who was Robert Kernachan, so entrusted with her estate?

Link to Rebecca Elliotts will

In my prior post, linked above, Martha Kernachan is named as an heir and near kin of Rebecca Booth Elliott, the aunt of both Mariah and her husband/first cousin, George W. Booth.

Martha was a Booth. Robert was her husband, and therefore an 'In-law" of Mariah.

William Malone

The Kernachan Cemetery in Lauderdale County, Alabama, was surveyed on April 5, 1989 by Orlan Irons. It is located off of Gunwaleford Road.

Listed are the following interments:

NAME                          Born          Died   Inscription/Comments
KERNACHAN, Robert                       14 Jan 1869 aged 76 years
WILLIAMS, Isaac B.      5 Apr AD 1812 5 Mar AD 1853 aged 39 yrs 11 mos 10 das
WILLIAMS, Maria C.**       6 Apr 1822    1 Sep 1851 aged 29 yrs 4 mos 25 das
   **Consort of Isaac B. Williams & daughter of Abram & Martha Kernachan
KERNACHAN, R. T.                        28 Mar 1868 aged 40 yrs 6 mos 9 das
JONES, Martha Tazewell     7 Apr 1845   15 Jun 1846 aged 1 yr 2 mos 8 das
JONES, Infant             22 Sep 1843    1 Oct 1843 
     inf son of James C. & Martha B. Jones
JONES, William Edward      2 Aug 1860   15 Oct 1882 
     son of James Carey & Matilda Bloomfield Jones
JONES, Sallie Bloomfield  11 Aug 1868   29 Mar 1883 
     dau of James C. & Matilda B. Jones
JONES, James Carey        30 Jul 1819   12 May 1885 father
       Matilda Bloomfield 16 May 1826   11 Oct 1885 mother; nee Kernachan
KERNACHAN, Abraham                      12 Mar 1833 aged 50 yrs; 
     born in County Donegall, Ireland
Some of these tombstones are broken, and some are out of place.

Location of Kernachan Cemetery

The Kernahans became entangled with other members of the Booth family as well.

Abraham Kernachan and Martha Booth had one son and 5 daughters:

First were the twins:

Muriel G Kernachan and Mariah C Kernachan were born on April 6, 1822.

There are no marriage records on Muriel, so she likely died as a child.

Mariah C Kernachan married Isaac B Williams. Both are buried in the Kernachan Cemetery.

Eliza Ann Kernachan was born Dec 3, 1823. She married first cousin Francis Harwood Jones, son of Francis F Jones and Nancy Ann Booth Jones. She died a young bride at the age of 22 in 1845.

Matilda B Kernachan was born May 16, 1836. She married James Carey Jones, also a first cousin and a brother to Francis H. Jones who married her sister Eliza.

Only son, Robert Thomas Kernachan II (named for his uncle and probably his grandfather), was a Confederate Veteran who died in 1869. He married cousin Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons, daughter of John J. Simmons and Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones Simmons. Her mother would go on to marry John Nicholas Malone of Limestone County, Alabama. All present Alabama Kernachans are descended from their 3 sons: Robert T Kernachan III (1855), John Simmons Kernachan (1857) and William Jones Kernachan (1859). All three sons made their mark in Alabama history. More on them later.

Mary Lucy Kernachan, the youngest, was born September 24, 1829. She was the first wife of John Nicholas Malone, who later married her cousin Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones Simmons, mother of her sister-in-law, Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons. They had 3 children together before Lucy died in 1849: Algernon Kernachan Malone (1846), Robert Booth Malone (1847) and Sarah A "Sally" Malone (1848).

In several newspaper articles and pieces of business, we found out a little of who the Kernachans were.:

From the Nashville Christian Advocate: Oct 2, 1851

Maria Williams, wife of James Williams, Daughter of Abram and Martha Kernachan, died September 1, 1851, in the 30th year of her age.

If you notice, in the cemetery, her husband is "Isaac B Williams".

From Newspaer Abstracts from The Huntsville Daily Mercury, contributed by KL Stacy,

Florence Notes Nov 22, 1885

A Young Man Kills himself accidentally

"Mr. Robert T. Kernachan, one of our most popular and worthy young men, was wounded Thursday evening by the accidental discharge of his gun, and from the effects of which he died yesterday. He leaves behind a wife and two little children, and a host of friends to mourn his sad and untimely end. He will be buried today at the family burying ground in Colberts Reserve in this county. "

The Nashville Christian Advocate, about the same time reported:
Robert T Kernachan died near Florence, Alabama, November 20, 1885 in his 31st year of age of accidental gunshot wound; married Blanche Moore, Jan. 18 1881, two children.

The two children were John Simmons Kernachan and William J. Kernachan, both who grew up to be distinguished men.

NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, V. 29, #6. February 6, 1869
ROBERT KERNACHAN d Jan. 14, 1869, aged 73rd year; native of Ireland; came to Philadelphia, Pa. at age 6 and then to Lauderdale Co., Ala. where he died; joined MEC in 1821 or 1822.

Note: MEC stands for "Methodist Episcopal Church"

"Sister" KERNACHAN born Mecklenburg Co., Va., Nov. 3, 1791; died March 1, 1847; moved to Tenn. in 1818; married Abram Kernachan (died March 12, 1833), 1820, and settled in Lauderdale Co., Ala. the same year; four daughters and one son. She married, as a widow, to Robert Kernachan, May 1834.

PLANTATIONS IN ALABAMA

Kernachan Plantation

Lauderdale

In 1810, the Chickasaws complained that between 4000 and 5000 people had illegally invaded their territory. By 1816, Isaac Barker, a government agent reported 200 to 300 families living around the Shoals of the Tennesse River, which included the Muscle Shoals area in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Abraham, or Abram, as he is often seen, was born in Donegal, Ireland. We know that he arrived first in Philadelphia, in 1799, and that at some point prior to 1820, he had removed to Tennessee. The obituary for Martha Booth Kernachan states that they married in Tennesee about 1820. Younger brother Robert Thomas Kernachan would later join Abraham and Martha in Lauderdale County, Alabama, but another younger brother, Andrew, would remain in Shelby County, Tennesse. He was the father of two daughters who would remove to Cincinatti, Ohio. Several of the Alabama Kernachans would later visit Cincinatti. William Jones Kernachan is recorded as having been born there, and the obituary of Francis Harwood Jones, who married Abrahams daughter Eliza, states that they lived for a little while in Cincinatti. Francis H. Jones was also a cousin of Eliza Kernachan, being the son of Francis F Jones and Nancy Ann Booth, sister of Martha Booth Kernachan.

Inventory Book "A" of Lauderdale County, Alabama records 22 patents of land to Abraham Kernachan dated February 6, 1822 in Township 3 South, Range 12 West.

This township borders the Tennesee River (Pickwick Lake) to the south. It continues across the river into Colbert County, Alabama.

The Kernachan Cemetery which contains the remains of Abraham and his brother Robert lies in Colbert County. The Kernachan plantation lie in Lauderdale County.

April 6, 1822, Twins Muriel G and Mariah C Kernachan are born.

On April 25, 1822 Abraham Kernachan record his livestock mark as "a swallow fork in each ear". p 116

December 3, 1823 Eliza Ann Kernachan is born.

On October 20, 1823, Abraham is recorded as living in the community of "Smithsonia".

May 16, 1826 Matilda Bloomfield Kernachan is born.

1826 Abraham Kernachan files a lawsuit in Lawrence County, Alabama suing his brother-in-law, Harper Booth. Another party mentioned is another brother-in-law, Francis Jones, husband of Nancy Ann Booth Jones. Abraham wins the suit and Harper Booth has to pay him the $1279.25 that was borrowed in 1822.

September 19, 1827 Robert Thomas Kernachan II is born.

September 4, 1829 Mary Lucy Kernachan is born.

In the 1830 census, Abraham was the Head of Household of nearly his own town, with a total of 55 persons in his household. Many small towns did not have that many citizens.

He grew Cotton.

Abraham Kernachan [Abraham Kernahan]
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):	Lauderdale, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:	1 Robert T II
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:	1 Likely an employee
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39:	1 Robert
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59:	1 Abraham
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:	1 Mary Lucy
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:	3 Mariah, Matilda, Eliza
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:	1 Martha
Slaves - Males - Under 10:	6
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:	9
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:	5
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54:	5
Slaves - Females - Under 10:	8
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:	6
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:	4
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99:	3
Free White Persons - Under 20:	5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	3
Total Free White Persons:	9
Total Slaves:	46
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):	55

The one male between 20 and 29 was probaly an employee, like the John Cradock living with Robert in 1850.

A history of Lauderdale County states that the major Cotton mills were established between 1836 and 1840. The Cypress Creek area of Lauderdale saw the devopment of the Kernachan Mill and the Skipworth Mill, which would later be purchased by Mr James Martin and Mr. Levi Cassity and renamed the Globe Factory or called the Cypress Mill.

March 12, 1833 Abraham Kernachan died.

In May of 1834, his widow, Martha B Kernachan, married his brother Robert Thomas Kernachan, Sr.

The Kernachan name has many variations. There were quite possibly more relatives left in the Philadelphia area, some may have even moved to New York.

Variations found are: Kernighan, Kernohan, Kernachon, Carnachen, Carnaghan, Carnalan, Carnaman, Carnan, Carnilon, Kennon.

They were first found in County Donegal, Ireland, where they held a seat from early times. Abraham's Tombstone reads:

"Abraham Kernachan b 1783 Corrigan Co, Donegal, Ireland d 12 Mar 1833 in Lauderdale County Alabama".

While the only siblings we can be sure of is Robert, who married his widow and John, who remained in Ireland and is mentioned in Robert's will, and whose descendants may have came to claim an inheritance, and Andrew, who remained in Tennesse, and whose daughters the family still had interactions with, there is a mention of a Revolutionary War soldier:
William Carnahan or Kernachan , enlisted 13 April 1791 Private Pennsylvania line. Enlisted at Little York, PA.
He applied for a pention Nov 1, 1818, at age 68, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The 1820 record lists him with wife Grissel, 74 and 2 children living in the home. (Grandchildren perhaps?). This would have William born about 1750. Maybe he was the father of the Kernchans, or some other relative.

There is an 1869 record of name changes in Pennsylvania wherein a William Henry Kernachan changed his name to William Henry Kenyon. Perhaps he wanted to sound less Irish.

Robs Kernahan
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):	Lauderdale, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:	1 Robert II 13
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:	1 Employee ?
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49:	1 Robert 47
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:	1 Lucy 11
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19:	2 Eliza 17, Matilda 14 (Mariah married, Muriel deceased)
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49:	1 Martha 48
Slaves - Males - Under 10:	19
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:	10
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:	9
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54:	5
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99:	1
Slaves - Females - Under 10:	15
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:	10
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35:	5
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:	4
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99:	3
Persons Employed in Agriculture:	40
Free White Persons - Under 20:	4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	3
Total Free White Persons:	7
Total Slaves:	81
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:	88

By 1840, Roberts' Household had grown considerably. In a history of Lauderdale County, for the year 1860, he was listed as one of the largest planters in the county, along with George Armstead, Nathan Boddie, William H Key, Robert M Patton and others.

The court records hold summons for Roberts service in several different years:

April 4, 1844 Petit Jurors:
Robert Kernachan, farmer, Sinking Creek

Sept 29, 1845 Summoned to Grand Jury: Robert Kernachan, farmer, Sinking Creek

1850 Traves Jurors:

Robert Kernachan, farmer, Sinking Creek

April 13,1857
Robert Kernachan, farmer, Reserve

While the elder Robert was serving on the Jury, Robert, the younger was appearing in court. He had multiple problems of his own.

They both appeared in the 1850 census:

R T Kernahan
[Robert Thomas Kernahan Sr]

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1794

Birthplace:

Ireland

Home in 1850:

District 1, Lauderdale, Alabama

Gender:

Male

Family Number:

801

Household Members:

Name	Age
R T Kernahan	56
John Crodock	22

R T Kernahan
[Robert Thomas Kernachan jr]

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1827

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1850:

District 1, Lauderdale, Alabama

Gender:

Male

Family Number:

800

Household Members:

Name	Age
R T Kernahan	23

In 1843, another mention of Robert Kernachan, Sr., was in the court papers:

In the matter of Robert Kernachan, Trustee, etc. of Mariah B Moffett, a decree was rendered by the chancellor removing the said trustee, and appointing James C Malone in his stead.

This decree led to the next phase in Mariah's life.

↧

The Will of Robert Kernachan, Sr.

May 15, 2013, 4:15 pm

≫ Next: The Troublesome Life of Robert Kernachan Jr.

≪ Previous: The Kernachan's

Before I move on to the Malones, in this trail of Mariah's, there was much more on the Kernchans to be found. The Kernachan's were truly a collateral family of the Booths. Not only was the matriarch, Martha, the daughter of Thomas Booth, several of her children intermarried with other members of the Booth family or of families who already had existing links to them, like the Jones, Simmons and others. There is quite a bit to record of the younger generations of Kernachans, and when looking at which Robert was given trusteeship of Mariah's estate, I would have to say it was Robert, Sr. , husband of her aunt. Her cousin Robert, had quite a bit of trouble in life and his son Robert, died young.

The Will below is that of Robert, Sr., and it is the document, which clearly defines Abraham as his brother, by naming Robert, Jr. as his nephew, and also names another brother, John, surviving and living in Ireland. Andrew and other members of the family had already passed.

I will not attempt to copy all of the 'legalese' as it gets sometimes boring and means little at this point in time, but will pull out that information which identifies persons and property and relationships.

"The State of Alabama, Lauderdale County. I, Robert Kernachan a Citizen of said County, being of sound mind and memory but knowing that all men are mortal do hereby make and ...my last will and testament...Item 1...debts....Item 2 As I will leave no children I give and bequeath all my Estate both real and personal to my nephew Robert T Kernachan of said County of Lauderdale. Intending hereby to give to my said Nephew Robert T. Kernachan all my property of every kind and description whatsoever such as land, houses, horses, mules, cattle, hogs, household and kitchen furniture, cash on hand notes and accounts, and all other claims due including my Railroad stock and all my property without exception.

Item 3rd The land w Plantation which I have devised in the 2nd Item above is the tract of land on which I reside.......bounded on the south by Alexander Beckwith and on the West by the lands of Martha Koger and on the east by the lands of Lawrence Thompson and on the North by the lands of Edmond Noel, situated in the County of Lauderdale.

I hereby bequeth to my nephew with a legacy of two thousand dollars which I direct to be paid to my brother John Kernachan of Carrigan County, Donegal, Ireland if then living, if not to his heirs at law by which I mean his children or their child or children of them who have died leaving a child or children, them being the grandchildren of said John Kernachan.

Item 4 Appoint Robert T Kernachan, nephew, administrator

5th of July 1864

Witnesses: James Simpson, James Boddie, A Kimmer

Robert Kernachan's will Continued

My nephew Robert T Kernachan to whom I bequeathed my property in my last will and testament having claimed the object of this Codicil is to give and bequeth to the children of the said Robert T Kernachan, all the property which is in the foregoing last will and testament made by me...given by my hand and seal April 2nd 1868

Witnesses: Francis Jones, G B Thompson, W H Jones

I hereby nominate and appoint A E E Kernachan, widow of Robert T Kernachan sole executrix of this my last will and testament....

Robert Kernachan April 1868

Witnesses: W H Jones, H G Winborn, A W Beckworth.

Followed by several pages of statements from the witnesses of the signing of the will or to the Codicil stating how long they had known Robert Kernachan, how they knew him, did they know of his property and how old he was. All stated that they had known him in excess of 20 years, that he was about 72 years old and that he owned a plantation in Lauderdale County.

The 1850 census showed Robert T Kernachan Sr and Robert T Kernachan Jr. living side by side. Robert T Kernachan, Sr died January 14, 1869. His nephew Robert T. Kernachan Jr, had died the previous year, March 28, 1868. Robert Jr. was a recent veteran of the Civil War.

His death was not natural.

↧

The Troublesome Life of Robert Kernachan Jr.

May 16, 2013, 8:00 am

≫ Next: Bob Two Part II: War and Amnesty.

≪ Previous: The Will of Robert Kernachan, Sr.

Robert Thomas Kernachan II was born in Lauderdale County, Alabama in 1827. He was a young man with a great burden. Named for his uncle, and perhaps a further back relative, he was the son of Abraham Kernachan, who had arrived as a teen from Corrigan, Donegal, Ireland to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and had traveled first to Tennessee, where he probably arrived to the Colberts Reserve area of Alabama with a group, perhaps of Indian fighters in the wars with the Creek, and in 1822, claimed 22 patents in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Robert Jr's father passed, his mother Martha W. Booth Kernachan married his like-named Uncle, and young Robert became the only male heir to a household of nearly 90 souls and a massive amount of land near Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

In the 1850 census, he is shown as living Next door to his Uncle Robert, by then a widower.

R T Kernahan
[Robert Thomas Kernachan jr]

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1827

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1850:

District 1, Lauderdale, Alabama

Gender:

Male

Family Number:

800

Household Members:

Name	Age
R T Kernahan	23

Robert I Kernochan
Spouse:	A E E Simmons
Marriage Date:	10 May 1854
County:	Lauderdale
State:	Alabama
Performed by Name:	S C Posey
Source information:	Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research

In 1854, Robert marries a relative, Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons. Ellen Simmons was the daugther of John J. Simmons and his wife Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones. Recall that Rebecca A. C. Jones was mentioned in the will of Rebecca Booth Elliott, as her namesake niece. Rebecca was the sister of Robert T. Kernachan's mother, Martha Booth Kernachan, making Robert and Rebecca first cousins, and his wife Ellen, his first cousin once removed.

Robert had been a troubled young man before his marriage.

On April 2, 1847 he recieved a Grand Jury Indictment along with William H Key (Robert's son William Jones Kernachan would later marry Jenny Key) for Affray.

On April 12, 1853 #1047
State vs Robert T Kernachan
Assault with intent to commit murder.
Robert T Kernachan and William M Jackson gave bond of $1000.00

On April 23, 1855 #1047
State vs Robert T Kernachan
Indicted for assault with intent to murder - pleads not guilty. Jury found him guilty of an assault and battery-fine of $500.00 plus costs of suit.

It seems his uncle served on the jury, and several other jurors were neighbors and brothers-in-law.

Robert and Ellen had 3 sons in rapid sucession:

Robert T. Kernachan III in 1855
John Simmons Kernachan in 1857
William Jones Kernachan in 1859

And then came the war.

↧

Bob Two Part II: War and Amnesty.

May 20, 2013, 3:00 am

≫ Next: A Full View of the Tragedy in Tuscumbia

≪ Previous: The Troublesome Life of Robert Kernachan Jr.

In my last post, I made mention of the problematic early life of Robert Thomas Kernachan, Jr. born abt 1827 in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Early Life of Robert Kernachan II

His father, Abraham, had died in 1833, when Robert was around 6 years old. Within a year, his mother had married his fathers younger brother, for whom he had been named, Robert T. Kernachan, Sr. Robert Sr., raised Robert Jr., his mother passing away while he was ending his teen years. Being the next to the youngest child, and the only son, a heavy burden was passed to Robert, Jr. and he did not wear it well.

While his father and uncle were born in Ireland and had traveled quite a bit, Robert Jr. was a Southern man, an Alabaman, raised in what luxury and wealth that time period had to offer. His father was one of the earliest landowners in the area and had built a large plantation. His uncle had added to the growth of the plantation, and had also built a mill, serviced by a railroad, and had bought stock in the growing industry of the railroads, and the cotton industry.

Cotton would continue to be an important substance in the family for years to come.

Robert Jr. was born into the affluence and attitudes of the time. It would be his undoing.

Robert Jr. was a veteran of the Civil War. He recieved amnesty from President Andrew Johnson and took the oath of amnesty in 1865.

The letter written by his attorney to the President states:

To His Excelllency Andrew Johnson
President of the United States

Sir

The undersigned respectfully states that he is a citizen of Lauderdale County, Alabama and as such is an applicant for relief from....your Excellency's proclaimation of the 29th of May, 1865. In behalf of his application begs leave to represent

1) That he is not under arrest by any authority for any offence whatsoever.......undersigned sole service....private soldier in February 1864 ....until paroled.

Remains of Fort Morgan after the War

2nd The undersigned did not order the taking of Fort Morgan or Mount Vernon....

The document then fades into illegibility. Certain words are discernible: charge with disloyalty, aided in shooting or hanging any person for real or supposed disloyalty to the Confederate States (I believe it is saying that he did not participate in this.)

The document continues for several pages and through the legalese seems to state that Mr. Kernachan was a loyal citizen, but not leader in any offense, but just a gentleman soldier who took up arms in the latter days of the fighting to defend his state and county. His Uncle Robert/Stepfather would have been much too old to fight and therefore was likely not at odds with the government, who probably confiscated a great deal of the younger Kernachans' property.

Fort Morgan site

Robert Jr. had been troubled before the war. He had gotten in several fights, charged with affray and even charge with attempted murder, of which he was found not guilty, but found guilty of the lesser charge of battery.

Mount Vernon arsenal

Afterwards, he was one of the many men in the South, who fell into depression and despair as their lives had been sent into a tailspin and turned upside down. The government was taking everything they had. They could no longer operate their farms and businesses, and could not see the end of the tunnel.

Native Americans take refuge at Mt. Vernon, Alabama

Robert Jr. did not live to see the end of the 1860's play out. On Friday, April 3, 1868 the Memphis Daily Avalanche of Memphis, Tennessee reported the following event in an article entitled ," The Tuscumbia Tragedy".

The Next Post will be about his murder.

↧

A Full View of the Tragedy in Tuscumbia

May 21, 2013, 2:35 pm

≫ Next: Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons Kernachan

≪ Previous: Bob Two Part II: War and Amnesty.

The year was 1868. No flags go up in the minds of people walking the earth today of any important events that happened that year. They may recall from history class a few things from earlier in the decade, but not 1868.

But 1868 was as tumultuous a year in American history as 1968 would be a century later. And it would be the events of this year and the few prior to it, that would lead to the tragic and untimely death of 40 year old Robert Thomas Kernachan II.

In 1865, Robert had been given a pardon for his part in the Civil War by then President Andrew Johnson. In 1868, on February 24, Andrew Johnson would be impeached. Johnson was the first President to be fully impeached by the House, however, the Senate would later offer him an aquittal.

Andrew Johnson was a stern looking man whose visage would never grace a form of American currency.

U. S. Grant would be elected President that year, but 1868 was one of the most firey and passionate years of the era of Reconstruction.
Large Photo

Three years earlier, in 1865, a Reconstruction government was set up in all of the former Southern states with the exception of Texas. Measures were taken to transform the slave-holding south into a land of equality and to sew the torn nation back together. The wide gap in the North and South did not heal quickly or fully, however. To this day, the rip still bears the scars and at times, she bleeds.

In the late 1860's, the gulf between the executive and legislative branches of the American Government were huge. Agencies like the Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Rights Bills were passed into existence, just to be stifled by acts known as "Black Codes" meant to keep the newly freed persons out of positions of power.

A Political Ad promoting the 15th Amendment

Alabama was as deep as the Deep South gets, and after the war, she had suffered as much desolation as any. How a family or individual fared depended on the situation they were in before the war, how diversified their sources of income, their station in life and what amount of human and material loss they had suffered during the war. Widows and orphans fared the worse, of course and newly freed slaves had immediate decisions to make based on survival, and no tools or adequate information on which to make them with.

Those who had little and knew how to survive with it, seemed to fare the best. They had nothing to take, so it was not taken and their lives changed little during the decade, if they did not lose a son or a father. If they did, then they fared much worse.

But for families like the Kernachans, their way of life was turned upside down, their material possessions were taken and taxed, their farms left to ruin and they became resentful, as any wealthy person is when it suggested that they share. Alabama was called 'The Heart of Dixie'. Her main export was cotton. And the Kernachans grew cotton.

In June of 1860, the Schedule 4, Productions of Agriculture for District Two, County of Lauderdale, Post Office, Florence, showed the following for Robert T. Kernachan:

Acres of Land: 980 improved, 1557 unimproved

Livestock: Horses 8, Asses and Mules 12, Milch (sic) Cows 7, Working Oxen 7, Other cattle 19, sheep 23, Swine 100.

Produce: Bushels of Wheat 190, Bushels of Rye 150, Bushels of Indian Corn, 2500, Ginned Cotton bales of 400 lbs each , Lbs of Wool 110.

This was not including crops in the field or the legacy in waiting of his Uncle/Stepfather Robert T Kernachan, Sr of whom Robert Jr was willed to be the only heir, but Robert Sr. would outlive Robert Jr by about a year and add a codicil to his will.

The 1865-1866 Tax list shows Robert Kernachan Sr, being taxed for a Buggy and Robert Kernachan Jr, being taxed for a Gold Watch and a Silver Plate, both living 12 miles west of Florence.

The District Three Tax List of Lauderdale County, for the month of December, 1865, showed Robert T Kernchan as Cotton 13 RTK, 4800 G's and Robert Kernahan, Sr as Cotton 23 RK, 9300 G's. Robert Jr. was taxed $96.00, while his uncle was taxed $184.00. While this does not seem like a lot of money in todays standards, think about how much a penny could buy in 1865...

1865 State Tax, Lauderdale County, Alabama

Robert T Honachan
[Robert T Kernachan]

Age in 1860:

Birth Year:

abt 1828

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1860:

District 2, Lauderdale, Alabama

Gender:

Male

Post Office:

Florence

Value of real estate:

1850 Schedule, Kernachans

Household Members:

Name	Age
Robert T Honachan	32
A E Ellen Honachan	30
John S Honachan	3
William J Honachan	1
Rebecca A C Simmons	49
Salley Noel	76

The 1860 census had shown Robert T Kernachan (named mispelled by transcriptionist) with his wife Ellen, their 2 younger son (older son Robert the III had been sent off to school), Ellen's mother Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones Simmons (her mother Judith Booth Jones was sister to Robert Jr.'s mother Martha Booth Kernachan), and his elderly aunt Sarah Booth Noel (Sarah, or Sallie as she was called first married William Norville in Mecklenburg County, Virginia and then married William Noel and migrated with a large section of the Booth/Jones family to Alabama, some via North Carolina, others via Tennesee, but all ending up in Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Franklin and Colbert Counties of Alabama), sister of his mother Martha and Rebecca's mother Judith.

The 1865 tax for Livestock and Produce had shown mother-in-law Rebecca A. C. Simmons as owning 2 horses valued at $150, but no such listing was shown for Sallie Noel. She likely died between 1860 and 1865.

The 1850 Slave Schedule had shown Robert Sr with 28 slaves between the ages of 6 months and 70 and Robert Jr. with 39 between the ages of 1 month and 50.

In 1840, Robert Sr. had commanded a household of 88 people, over 80 labeled as slaves. By 1850, he had dispersed many of them and their increase, to his 4 nieces and their spouses as well as his nephew Robert, Jr, as wedding gifts.

In 1850, Frances Harwood Jones, of Lauderdale County is shown with 22 slaves between the ages of 3 months and 51, widower of Eliza Kernanchan. His brother James Carey Jones, husband of Matilda B Kernchan, in Limestone County, is shown with 8 slaves between the ages of 11 and 50. He was more of a politician and businessman than planter. So was John Nicholas Malone of Limestone County, husband of Mary Lucy Kernachan, who is shown with 23 slaves between the ages of 2 and 70. The Williams abode, in Lauderdale County, who are buried at the Kernachan cemetery in Colbert, Mariah Kernachan and her husband, are shown with 18 slaves between one and 90.

In 1860 schedule has Robert Jr with 10 slaves between the ages of 35 and 60, all black, 11 between the ages of 19 and 30, 3 mulatto and 8 black, 11 between the ages of 8 and 15 1 mulatto and the rest black, and 15 under the age of 6, all black.

He was a Planter of the old south, where conservative meant tyranny and the old order. Robert, a son of the Old South, did not like change, did not like the new taxes, did not like the Government stepping in and taking what he felt belonged to him and ordering a change in his life and lifestyle. Robert was an angry man.

So the years between Robert Jr's pardon and amnesty in 1865 and 1868 had been filled with new government regulations, new taxation and confiscation of property, new offices and administrations being set up, his enormous property going largely untended, and Robert began drinking.

The impetus to his drinking was a Convention held at Montgomery, Alabama between November 5 and December 6, 1867. The following are the delegates from the Booth/Jones/Kernachans area of Alabama, Limestone, Lawrence, Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin and Madison Counties:

Forty-First District: Thomas M. Peters (Lawrence), Benjamin O. Masterson (Lawrence)
Forty-Second District: Lafayette Robinson [B] (Madison), Andrew J. Applegate (Madison), Columbus Jones [B] (Madison)
Forty-Third District: James W. Stewart (Lauderdale), James T. Rapier [B] (Lauderdale), Daniel H. Bingham (Limestone)
Forty-Fourth District: William Skinner (Franklin), H. H. Russell (Colbert)

The Constitution of Alabama of 1868 was the document that led to the death of Robert Thomas Kernchan, Jr. of Lauderdale County, Alabama.

The Constitution of 1868

Name:	A B Collins
Race:	White
County:	Franklin
Census Year:	1866

A B Collins, the alledged murderer of Robert Kernachan, was shown living in Franklin County, Alabama in the 1866 state census.

The article in the Memphis Daily Avalanche speaks for itself. The article continues:

"were engaged in conversation in reference to the election in Arkansas upon the Constitution. Some one of the number remarked that the Constitution had been defeated. Collins, who was unacquainted with the gentlemen engaged in conversation, asked "from what source they had their information". He was answered "from the Memphis papers". Collins then said "the Constitution had been ratified by from two to three thousand majority." He was asked from what source his information came. He replied, "from Memphis POST." Mr. Kernachan then said to Collins: " You are one, I believe, who thinks a negro is as good, if not better, than a white man." Mr. Collins said: "I don't know; I am in favor of every man having his rights and keeping his place." Kernachan said: "If I had you out doors, I could clean you out." Some other conversation then took place between them in a low tone of voice, not heard by persons who sat next to Kernachan, when Kernachan was seen to draw his pistol As soon as he got his pistol nearly presented, Collins shot him; the ball entering the breast. As Kernachan was sinking, his pistol was fired, entering and passing through the table to the floor. No one seemed to be noticing Collins, and his movements were not seen until he was up and shooting. The room was filled with ladies and gentlemen at dinner. The parties were not acquainted with each other. Kernachan was so drunk that he made several efforts to get his pistol before he drew it. Collins made no effort to evade the difficulty, or to get out of the way of the pistol, fired and killed him. As soon as Collins fired he started for the door and left the house. He was arrested by J. B. Skidmore, Esq. in front of the hotel, and carried to the Court House, where he was placed in charge of the Sheriff, J. W. Ligon, Esq.

Joseph II. Sloss, Esquire, before proceeding to try the case, asked Collins if he had counsel, and being answered in the negative, and that he was unable to employ an attorney, appointed William Cooper, Esquire and Colonel L. B. Thornton to defend him. Alex. McAlexander, Esquire, the State Solicitor for this circuit, prosecuted the case. The Court, after hearing the evidence and arguments of counsel, ordered the prisoner to be discharged upon giving bail for his appearance to appear at the next term of the Circuit Court of Colbert county to answer unto the charge of manslaughter in the second degree, in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. The Sheriff held him until Sunday morning and gave him every opportunity to obtain security; but upon his failure, took him to Florence jail for safe keeping , there being no jail in this county.

This terrible affair has cast a gloom over our city and Lauderdale county, and is another sad arguement against intemperance and carrying concealed weapons.

Mr. Kernachan leaves a widow and three children, besides a host of devoted friends, to mourn his sad and tragical death. "

In the 1865-1866 Tax Listing of Alabama, A. B. Collins of Tuscumbia is charge $25 in tax total, with $15 being income tax and $10 tax for being a physcian.

A B Collins, Physcian, Alabama Tax Records

Dr. A B Collins, the man who shot R T Kernachan, Jr, is shown on the Board of Regents of the University of Alabama in 1870, and other near years, as being of Lawrence County, Alabama.

University of Alabama Board of Regents

The University of Alabama was established in 1820.

His legal problems did not stop him from continuing on with his life. He married Miss Sarah Smith in Lawrence County, on August 18, 1868, just months after he shot Bob II. She must have been his second wife, as he is shown with a wife and two slaves in the 1840 census.

He was even elected to the school board the same year as he shot R. T. Kernachan.

The Huntsville Advocate
Contributed by klstacy_home

Description: District Convention in the Sixth Congressional Dist.;
Mass Meeting In Lawrence;
Grand Outpouring of the Masses;
6th Congressional Dist Convention

Date: January 17 1868

Newspaper published in: Huntsville, AL

Source: Library

Page/Column: Pages 1 & 2

================ Page 1, Column 5 =================
District Convention in the Sixth Congressional District
This body met in Moulton on the 8th inst. All the counties in the District were represented, except Limestone and Jefferson. Maj. T. M. Peters was chosen President; A. J. Ingle and Alex. Logan Vice Presidents; John S. Leach and S. G. Thomas Secretaries.
Upon motion a Committee on Nominations was appointed, consisting of the delegates from each county.
The Convention then adjourned until 2 ½ o’clock P. M.
Upon the reassembling of the Convention, the Committed on Nominations, reported the following, which were unanimously ratified to-wit:
For Congress in the 6th District, F. L. CRAMER.
For Board of Education, G. A. SMITH, A. B. COLLINS.
For Circuit Judge, JAMES S. CLARK.
For State Senator, FRANK W. SYKES.
The meeting was addressed by Messrs. Peters, Sheats, Snelling, and Smith, and adjourned amidst grate enthusiasm.
T. M. PETERS, President.
J. S. LEACH, S. G. THOMAS } Secretaries

Before you start thinking it well and good that Dr. A. B. Collins shot and killed the highly intoxicated, former confederate, hot-blooded Irish Planter Bob Kernachan II, it was not long before Dr. Collins was making the headlines in Southern newspapers again.

ABSTRACTS FROM LAWRENCE COUNTY ALABAMA NEWSPAPERS

1855-1890

Abstracted by

Myra Thrasher Borden

Friday August 6, 1869

HOMICIDE

We are pained to hear of another homicide at Courtland, which

originated, as we are informed, in the following manner: On

Saturday last Hon. Thomas HAUGHEY, a candidate for re-

election to Congress, was speaking in Courtland, and A.B.

COLLINS gave him the lie about something, and struck HAUGHEY

knocking him off his stand; soon afterwards a pistol was

fired and wounded Dr. HAUGHEY - from which he has since died.

We understand that before Dr. HAUGHEY died he made affidavit

that COLLINS shot him. COLLINS we are informed has fled.

Friday September 3, 1869

The preliminary trial of A.B. COLLINS, charged with the

murder of Thomas HAUGHEY, is now in progress at Courtland,

before Esquires W.J. GIBSON, D.L. DINSMORE, Thomas MASTERSON,

E.S. MASTERSON and J.T. THRASHER. The trial commenced last

week, was continued several days, and adjourned to Wednesday

of this week.

The attorneys for the prosecution are, C.C. HARRIS,

Solicitor, G.S. HOUSTON, Luke PRYOR, J.C. & W.W. BAKER, and

E.H. FOSTER. For the defense: Jos. H. SLOSS, D.C. HUMPHREYS

John PHELAN, and R.O. PICKETT.

Friday December 24, 1869

Dr. A.B. COLLINS, charged with the murder of Dr. Thos.

HAUGHEY, broke Jail on Sunday evening last and made his

escape. About 9 o'clock, of the same night, a band of

disguised men made their appearance at the jail and demanded

the prisoner. We understand that they were leading an extra

horse. COLLIN'S friends will, doubtless, report that the

K.K.'s were after him.

Date: Thursday, August 19, 1869 Paper: Mobile Register (Mobile, Alabama), Volume II Issue 173, page 2

Arrest of Dr. A. B. Collins

The arrest of this man Collins, on the charge of murdering Dr. Thos. Haughey in Courtland, on the 2d of August, has created quite a stir among his Radical associates and companions, a number of whom are at present in our city, in attendance as members of the Board of Regents of the University of Alabama, of which body this assassin Collins is also a member. They first endeavored to prevent his arrest, by asserting that he was priveleged from arrest by virtue of being a member of this Board of Regents; allegin that this was a legislative body, and that he could no be arrested while attending its deliberations. Deputy Sheriff Scott refused to listen to such a pretence, and placed Collins in jail for safe keeping until yesterday morning, when he could be started for Lawrence county, the place where the killing took place. During Friday night great efforts were made by Collins' friends to get him out on habeas corpus in order to prevent his being carried off the next morning. But their efforts were unsuccessful and when early yesterday morning the prisoner was roused up to go to the train, he complained on being too sick to travel. A physician was called in, and pronounced him able to travel. Collins then positively refused to go. In order to gain time, or for some other object, he literally, so we are informed, tore off his clothes, leaving himself almost naked. A jail suit was then put on him, and he attempted to tear this off also. He was then manacled and forced to go to the train.

It is difficult to concieve why this man should have so far forgotten himself as to have offered this resistance to the officers of the law. Being a carpet-bagger and a Radical, he must have imagined himself above the law. The truth is, it was all intended for effect. His Radical friends have tried to produce the impression that if he goes to North Alabama he will be mobbed. They have telegraphed to Chattanooga for a guard of United States soldiers, to escort him through North Alabama, pretending that there is danger of his losing his life by a mob. What low mean trickery these Radicals resort to! This carpet-bag Radical politician who has been allowed to go over the whole of North Alabama slandering and abusing the good people of that country, and who is the slayer of one man supposed to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan- is now forsooth, at this late day, in danger of losing his life at the hands of that people, and that too, while in the hands of the lawful officers of the State of Alabama, and for the offence of killing Dr. Thomas Haughey, an enemy of the people of North Alabama, and of the so called Ku-Klux organization, and a Radical of the deepest dye! --Montgomery Mail

Date: Friday, August 27, 1869 Paper: Galveston Tri-Weekly News (Galveston, Texas) Vol XXVII Issue 158 Page 1

"One of the reported Ku-Klux- Outrages. -Dr. A. B. Collins, the Carpet-bagger who killed Dr. Haughey, the radical candidate for Congress at Courtland, Alabama was arrested in Montgomery on Friday last by Sheriff Scott. It is said tht he acknowledges that he did the shooting.

The Huntsville Advocate
Contributed by klstacy_home

From the North Alabamian.]
Grand Outpouring of the Masses
In response to a call signed by many of the best citizens of Lawrence County, Alabama, there assembled in the town of Courtland, on the 11th inst. about a thousand of the true and tried friends of the government. Speeches were made by Dr. Haughey; Dr. Frank Sykes, Lieut. David R. Snelling, Mr. F. L. Cramer, Col. Sheats, Mr. McCawley, Hon. James S. Clark, Louis Chardavoyne, (col’d); all of whom sustained the law and the Reconstruction policy of Congress with ability, dissipating all fears that the opposition had engendered by their criticisms Old Lawrence is all ablaze. She will give two to one for reconstruction, despite all efforts to get up opposition by the fault finding opponents of reconstruction. There were a full corps of county officers nominated whose names I don’t now remember. Hon. James S. Clark’s nomination for Circuit Judge was ratified. Dr. Frank’s nomination was approved. Col. C. C. Sheats was nominated for Congress, unanimously.
The meeting passed off agreeably, great enthusiasm prevailing among the people, all seeming to be determined to use their best efforts to restore Alabama to her proper place in the Union of States. Mr. Editor, Sir, please give this a place in your columns, and oblige the friends of Reconstruction.
A SPECTATOR.

In the same paper, different page, as Dr. Collins was elected to the school board, Dr. Haughey gave a speech. But who exactly was Dr. Haughey, the second victim of the murderous Dr. Collins?

The University of Alabama has a letter on file of Dr. Thomas Haughey, then of Washington, DC to Ben Purley Poone, dated December 28, 1868, detailing his own life, career and credentials. He might should have stayed in D C.

Digital view of Dr Haughey's letter

Dr. Thomas Haughey

Facts on Thomas Haughey

-Born in Glasgow Scotland

-Emigrated with father to NYC

-Moved to Jefferson County, Alabama in 1841

-Taught in St. Clair County, studied Medicine

-Granted a diploma by the New Orleans Medical College

-Practiced at Elyton, Jefferson County, Alabama

Wikipedia has this to report about him:

He served as a surgeon in the Third Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, in the Union Army 1862-1865. He resumed the practice of his profession in Decatur, Alabama. He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1867. Upon the readmission of the State of Alabama to representation was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth Congress and served from July 21, 1868, to March 3, 1869. He was a candidate for renomination and while making a political speech was assassinated in Courtland, Alabama, on July 31, 1869, and died on August 5, 1869. He was interred in Green Cemetery, near Pinson, Alabama.

So, whatever happened to Dr. A. B. Collins after his second murder? I don't exactly know. I've not found much else on him, aside from his crimes. Perhaps he is this druggist, who set up a Pharmacy in Lamar County, Alabama, and became the victim of an arson:

1903

KENNEDY SUFFERS FROM A TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR FIRE

Kennedy was visited by a disastrous fire Monday morning, causing a loss of about ten thousand dollars. The losses that can be figured are: W. H. KENNEDY’S hotel, $2,000; M. W. HODGE, grocery story, $1500; J. L. KENNEDY, store house and stock, $2250; E. P. PHILLIPS, store house and stock, $950; PLOTT & LONG, store and stock $2300; W. F. CARAWAY, damage to stock $299; Dr. A. B. COLLINS, drug store, loss on building $500; Dr. D. J. COLLINS, store and house $200

The post office was burned. The amount of insurance carried cannot be learned but the losses are partially covered. - (Source: Marion County Democrat, Marion County, AL, April 9, 1903)

In ending, I leave with this song:

Does my ancestry always lead back from or up to the Civil War? The answer to that is, apparently, Yes.

↧

Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons Kernachan

May 27, 2013, 3:03 am

≫ Next: Ellen's Will

≪ Previous: A Full View of the Tragedy in Tuscumbia

In the histories of Lauderdale County, Alabama, mentions are made of very early cotton mills, that drove the post-Civil War economy. In a chapter entitled "Producing After the Civil War", the following statement was made ' A lady named Kernachan was one of the three proprietors of Brandon Mills.' That lady was Ellen Kernachan.

Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons Kernachan was born about 1829 in Lawrence County, Alabama. She was the daughter of John J. Simmons and Rebecca Ann Charlotte Simmons. Rebecca was the daughter of Francis Jones and her mother was Judith Booth Jones.

Ellen, as she was known, first shows up in the 1850 census as a young lady, age 21, living with her mother Rebecca and sister Minerva, with her uncle James C Jones and his wife Matilda B Kernachan Jones, their young daughters, and Sarah Noel, the sister of Judith Booth Jones.

Ellen Sammond
[Ellen Simmons]

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1829

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1850:

Athens, Limestone, Alabama

Gender:

Female

Family Number:

644

Household Members:

Name	Age
James C Jones	31
Matilda B Jones	25
Eliza A Jones	4
Mary L S Jones	0
Sarah noll Jones	67
Rebecca Sammond	39
Ellen Sammond	21
Rebecca M Sammond	17
Amanda Harriet	36

On May 10, 1854, she marries Matilda's brother, her first cousin once removed, Robert Thomas Kernachan II. His mother Martha was a sister to Judith Booth Jones and Sarah Booth Noel. All daughters Thomas Booth of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

A E Ellen Honachan
[A E Ellen Kernachan]

Age in 1860:

Birth Year:

abt 1830

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1860:

District 2, Lauderdale, Alabama

Gender:

Female

Post Office:

Florence

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Robert T Honachan	32
A E Ellen Honachan	30
John S Honachan	3
William J Honachan	1
Rebecca A C Simmons	49
Salley Noel	76

By 1860, she has had three young sons, Robert T III, born 1855, who was likely at school, John Simmons Kernachan 1857 and William Jones Kernachan 1859. Her mother and Great-Aunt Sallie are living with them as well.

Name:

Ellen Kernachan

Age in 1870:

Birth Year:

abt 1829

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1870:

Township 3 Range 11, Lauderdale, Alabama

Race:

White

Gender:

Female

Post Office:

Florence

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Ellen Kernachan	41
Robert Kernachan	15
Jno Kernachan	13
Wm Kernachan	11

By 1870, her husband has been murdered and she is shown living with her 3 young sons.

Name:

Ellen Karnahan

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1830

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1880:

Florence, Lauderdale, Alabama

Race:

White

Gender:

Female

Relation to Head of House:

Self (Head)

Marital Status:

Widowed

Father's Birthplace:

Virginia

Mother's Birthplace:

North Carolina

Neighbors:

Cannot read/write:

Blind:

Deaf and dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Ellen Karnahan	50
William Karnahan	21
Judy Noel	68
Mattie Laywood	14

By the 1880 census, only youngest son, William, is living at home with her. He will later become a surgeon. The other members of the household are employees.

Ellen Kernachan became the sole proprietor of her husband and uncle-in-laws plantation and Cotton Mill. She would merge her business with that of Charles Brandon.

From the Florence Herald, Thursday, September 28, 1899.
CHAS. M. BRANDON SCHOOL.

Board of Education Honors Memory of This Lamented Citizen.

The board of education of this city has honored itself in naming the East Florence school "The Charles M. Brandon School." This action was taken at the meeting of the board on Monday night, and it is a graceful compliment to the memory of one who was, until his death, one of Florence's most highly esteemed citizens.
In order to fittingly dedicate the new building to the memory of the lamented gentleman for whom it has been named, exercises will be held at the school building next Monday afternoon, when the following program will be carried out:
"Sketch of the Life of the Late Chas. M. Brandon," Dr. W. J. Kernachan.
Chas. M. Brandon was one of the most popular men who ever lived in Florence, and the dedicatory exercises will prove of especial interest to those who knew and honor him. He was a friend of the people of East Florence and showed his interest in them in many ways, being a leader in the cause of education and christianity [sic] in that section.

Dr. Kernachan gave a short sketch of Mr. Brandon's life, which was not only appreciated but heartily endorsed by all, for they all knew Chas. M. Brandon and loved him.

From "A Walk Through the Past":

COFFEE HIGH SCHOOL

Named for Camilla Madding Coffee and her husband Capt. Alexander Donelson Coffee. Camilla gave the land for this original school in memory of her husband wo was a son of General John Coffee. This campus faced Hermitage Drive at the intersection of North Walnut Street. In 1939 the Kernachan Estate, consisting of 32 acres bordering Royal Avenue and Hermitage Drive, was purchased for the modern Coffee High School which opened August 29, 1951. The old Coffee High School building became the Appleby Junior High School when the upper grades moved to the new location.Excerpt of "A Walk Through The Past"

By all accounts, Charles Brandon was a good man and Ellen Kernachan did wise by collaborating her business interests with him. She set her descendants off to a good life for generations to come, by not failing or faltering as many of this era had. She picked up her skirts and set off to business and sent her sons to college. She had grand-daughters and great-granddaughters named for her.
After the death of her husband in 1868, Robert Sr., his uncle, added a codicil to his will naming Ellen as executrix and primaty heir. Ellen and Robert Jr., had 3 sons: Robert Thomas III, John Simmons, and William Jones. Robert and John would marry sisters: Blanche and Elva Moore from Mecklenburg County, Virginia. They were educated young ladies with connections to the Simmons family.
They were the daughters of Samuel T. Moore and Elva Harwell. Samuel T Moore was the son of Robert Moore and Elizabeth James "Betsy" Simmons, all of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. I have not researched the Simmons family trees, but with a common surname and a common origin, the likelihood that Betsy Simmons was related to Ellen's father John J Simmons is very probable.
William Jones Kernachan married Jenny Keyes Jones, yet another relative, related through the Virginia Jones line and also a descendant of the prominent Keyes family, who were also early planters in the Shoals area of Alabama. Jenny was the daughter of Henry Cox Jones and Martha Lousia Keyes.
The following is the obituary for Henry Cox Jones"Henry Cox Jones, lawyer, was born January 23, 1821, near Russellville, Franklin County, and died June 20, 1913, at Florence, son of William Stratton and Ann Harris (Cox) Jones, the former a native of Amelia County, Virginia, born in 1798, and died in 1874, came from Virginia in 1813, and located at Huntsville, moved to Franklin County in 1819, and settled on a large plantation near Russellville; grandson of Thomas Speck and Prudence (Jones) Jones, who lived in Amelia County, Virginia, the former a colonel in the Revolutionary army; and of Henry and Judith (Eldridge) Cox, who lived at Huntsville, Madison County; great-grandson of Peter Jones, of Dinwiddy County, Virginia, an officer in the British army who was sent to America to fight the Indians, and of Thomas and Martha (Bolling) Eldridge, the latter a descendant of John Rolf and Pocahontas, fourth generation."The ancestors of the Jones family came from Wales. He was raised on a plantation near Russellville, and obtained his early education in the schools of that place, under the instruction of John Wyatt Harris. (He was the father of Colonel John Wyatt Harris) and was graduated from LaGrange College in 1840. He studied law in college under Prof. Tutwiler, and later under Hon. Daniel Coleman of Athens. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 in Franklin County. He was elected Probate Judge of the county, and resigned the office after eighteen months to become a representative of Franklin County in the state legislature. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1844, and was sent to the State Senate in 1853. He moved to Florence in 1856, and continued his law practice. In 1860 he was a Douglas elector, and the following year represented the county at the Secession Convention, where he refused to vote for or sign the Ordinance of Secession. Through he was an opponent of secession, he was elected to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America and served in the body for one year. During the war he was engaged in the manufacture of cottons and woolens under a contract for the Confederate government. After the war he resumed the practice of law at Florence. He was associated at times with Sydney C. Posey and the Hon. Josiah Patterson. During the reconstruction period he was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee for five years. In 1876 he was a Tilden elector, and later in that year he was elected solicitor for the eighth district. He was re-elected to that office for two more terms, holding the position in all for eighteen years. He was a Democrat, a Methodist and a Mason. Married, October 13, 1844, at Athens, to Martha Louisa, who died at her home in Florence, May 6, 1887, daughter of George and Nelly (Rutledge) Keys, who lived in East Tennessee. ***** Children: (1) William Stratton, who served in the C. S. Army under Forest and was killed at Pulaski, Tennessee; (2) Bertha, married Lindsey Melbourne Allen; (3) George Pressly; (4) Ellen Rivers; (5) Henry Cox, deceased; (6) John Rather, deceased: (7) Jennie Keyes, married William Jones Kernachan; (8) Martha Bolling, married Thomas Sadler Jordan; (9) Robert Young; Wade Keyes, deceased."The above biographical sketch of Judge Jones is taken from Dr. Owen's "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography." Mrs. Bertha Allen, his eldest daughter, still resides at Phil Campbell and is one of the oldest residents of the town. Her husband, Lindsey Melbourne Allen, was the pioneer settler and merchant of Phil Campbell.From the book: "Distinguished Men, Women and Families of Franklin Co., Alabama," by R. L. James, pub. cir. 1927-1929, pages 56-57. Copy of book located in the Franklin County Library, Russellville, Alabama.

Ann Elizabeth Simmons Kernachan's will was probated on November 14, 1892. The contents will be the next post.

↧

Ellen's Will

May 28, 2013, 4:12 am

≫ Next: The Missing Kernachans: Robert IV and Moore

≪ Previous: Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons Kernachan

The Last Will and Testament of A. E. Ellen Simmons Kernachan gives away a lot of detail concerning her personality, her devotion and her business accumen. She was one sharp lady, it's very clear. Well-educated, well-situated, religiously devout and moral, and full of horse-sense.

She out-lived her husband by nearly 30 years and her oldest son by ten. She was survived by only two sons, John Simmons Kernachan I, and Dr. William Jones Kernachan and by the two sons of her oldest son Robert III, named in the will as Robert and Moore.

The easiest way to detail her will, as it is so clear, is just to present it in its entirety. I give you, Mrs Ann Elizabeth Ellen Simmons Kernachan:

Last Will and Testament of A. E. Ellen Kernachan

I A. E. Ellen Kernachan do make and publish this as my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

1st I wish all my just debts paid.

2nd I give and bequeath to the Board of Church Extention (sic) of the Methodist Episcopal Church South Five Thousand dollars of the Capitol Stock of the Florence Land Mining and Manufacturing Company to be used by said Board for Purposes of Church Extention(sic) in such manner as in the opinion of said Board the best interest of the M. E. Church South may require.

3- I hereby give and bequeath to the Board of Missions of the Methodist Church Episcopal Church South Five Thousand dollars of the Capital Stock of the Florence Land Mining and Manufacturing Company to be used by said Board for Missionary purposes in such way as in their opinion the best interest of the M. E. Church South may require.

4- I give and devise to my sons John S. and Wm J Kernachan in Equal parts the quarter acre of land owned by me in Florence, Alabama & being a part of the Brandon tract of land.

5- All the remainder of my Estate I give and devise to my said sons John S and Wm J Kernachan and to my grandchildren Robert and Moore Kernachan. Each of my said Sons taking one third and my two said grandchildren the other third.

6- It is my intention to give the 100 shares of Stock mentioned in items 2 and 3 of this will to the Methodist Episcopal Church but the same is to be paid over to said Board as soon as practicable after my death to be by them used for the purposes herein before indicated.

7- My Executor herein after named is given full power to manage and control, sell or otherwise dispose of the property herein given to my said grandchildren and to make such investments of the same as he may think best. In a word my said Executor shall have as much power in the management, control, disposition investment and reinvestment of said interests as if they were his own until the youngest of my said grandchildren shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years when their said interests or estates shall be turned over to them. Should either of said grandchildren die before the period last named the survivor shall take his interest in estates.

8- I hereby appoint my son John S Kernachan the executor of this my last will and testament and direct that he be not required to give bond as such and that he be not required to make any settlement or settlements of his Executorship in any Court.

Signed sealed published and declared to be my last will and testament at Florence, Alabama on this 7th day of January 1888 in the presence of Henry C. Jones, & George P. Jones who in my presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed the same as witnesses given under hand and seal.

A. E. Ellen Kernachan

↧

The Missing Kernachans: Robert IV and Moore

May 31, 2013, 3:08 am

≫ Next: The Sisters Kernachan

≪ Previous: Ellen's Will

The Obituary from the Nashville Christian Advocate for Robert Kernachan III, son of Robert Kernachan Jr and A. E. Ellen Simmons Kernachan reads:

ROBERT T. KERNACHAN died near Florence, Ala., Nov. 20, 1885 in his 31st year of age of accidental gunshot wound; married Blanche Moore, Jan. 18, 1881; 2 children.

The Florence Observer noted that they had lost one of their "most promising young men", that he was cleaning a gun and that it had accidentally discharged. He, leaving, a widow and 'two little children'.

It was not noted whether or not these two children were male or female. However, in her will dated 1888, Robert's mother, Ellen, mentions a division of property in thirds, one third for son John S. Kernachan, one third for son William J Kernachan and one third to be split between grandsons Robert and Moore.

Robert and Moore were the surviving minor children of eldest son Robert, who had passed 3 years prior to Ellen devising her will. Her will was witnessed by H. C. Jones and George P Jones. They were brothers of Jenny Keyes Jones Kernachan, who married William Jones Kernachan. Or perhaps father and brother, as both were named Henry Cox Jones and George was brother George Presley Jones. They were also distant relatives of Ellen's, being out of the the same old Virginia Jones/Simmons tree.

These witnesses verified that the will was Ellen's and that she was of sound mind when the will was probated in 1992. There were no changes nor codicil's indicating that Robert and Moore were still alive in 1892.

I can find several mentions of their mother, Blanche Moore Kernachan, in records and newspapers, but no more mention of Robert or Moore.

Blanche returned to her home county of Mecklenburg, Virginia, by 1920 and is also in the 1930 and 1940 censuses. However, she can not be located in the 1900 or 1910 census records.

The November 14, 1891 edition of the Times Daily, of Florence, Alabama records:

Mrs. Blanche Kernachan, who has been attending the New England Conservatory of Music, returned last Saturday, and is now at her home in the Reserve. Coming south, she spent several days at her old home in Virginia.

This was the year before her mother-in-law Ellen died.

We find out that in 1897, she had been "absent in Boston for two years past" and had returned home.

Blanche's return home from Boston

She is listed in the Boston University Catalogue as being in Dorchester, Massachusetts:
Boston University Catalogue

We learn that in 1903, she was leaving Alabama again to 'pursue her studies in music'.

Article from Florence Times

Ms. Blanche made the newspapers in both Alabama, her husbands home state; Virginia, her home state, and Massachusetts, where she attended school and taught. She also attended college in Tennesee.

Before her marriage, she is listed as attending Belmont College in Nashville, Tennesee.

Milady in Brown Yearbook.

Her nieces by marriage, Carrie Moore Kernachan and Ellen Simmons Kernachan II also attended Belmont.

Sale of Lots 5 and 9 in Florence, Alabama

In 1916, she sold two lots in Lauderdale County. She does not show up in either the 1900 or the 1910 census.

In 1927, she is listed as an instructor at the College of William and Mary, one of the oldest in Virginia.

Catalogue College of William and Mary

In the census records, we can pick Blanche up as a child. She and her sister Elva both married Kernachan brothers. They were distant relatives through the Simmons line. Their father, Samuel T. Moore was the son of Robert Moore 1800-1836 and Elizabeth James "Betsy" Simmons 1802-1852 from Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

Blanche Moore

Age in 1860:

Birth Year:

abt 1859

Home in 1860:

Regiment 98, Mecklenburg, Virginia

Post Office:

Tanners Stone

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Saml T Moore	25
Elvira Moore	22
Cora Moore	2
Blanche Moore	1

Blanche Meere
[Blanche Moore]

Age in 1870:

Birth Year:

abt 1859

Birthplace:

Virginia

Home in 1870:

Flat Creek, Mecklenburg, Virginia

Race:

White

Gender:

Female

Post Office:

Boydton

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Samuel T Meere	36
Ehara A Meere	34
Carrie Meere	13
Blanche Meere	11
Mattie Meere	10
Liucijus Meere	5
Lucy Meere	4
Samuel T Meere	2
Robert H Meere	6/12
Margaret L Wonn	22
Lucy Simmons	14
Florence Simmons

It is after this census that Blanche Moore disappears from the censuses until 1920. Her family appears in the 1880 Mecklenburg County, Virginia census without her, even her older sister Carrie.

She may have been in college at this time. What is on record is her marriage to Robert T. Kernachan in Mecklenburg County, Virginia on January 18, 1881 noted as the daughter of S. T. Moore. Robert had traveled to Virginia to marry her. How had he met her? Or did the Simmons distant cousins keep in touch and decide this to be a proper match?

The two sons would have been born between the 1881 marriage and the 1885 death of their father as they are mentioned in the obituary.

They were alive in 1888 when their grandmother Ellen Simmons Kernachan died and mentioned them in her will.

By 1902, Blanche shows up as a music teacher in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mrs Blanche Kernachan
Gender:	F (Female)
Residence Year:	1902
Street Address:	355 Highland Av SW
Residence Place:	Roanoke, Virginia
Occupation:	Music Tclir
Publication Title:	Walsh's Roanoke, Virginia City Directory

By 1916, She has been nominated as

Blanche Kernachan
Post Office Location:	Radcliffe, Mecklenburg, Virginia
Appointment Date:	13 Mar 1916
Volume #:	80
Volume Year Range:	1891-1930

the Postmistress of Radcliff, Virginia. She held that position for a number of years.

Then by 1920, she is back living in the town of her birth, South Hill, with her younger sister Nina Moore Allen.

Birth Year:

abt 1865

Birthplace:

Virginia

Home in 1920:

South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia

Race:

White

Gender:

Female

Relation to Head of House:

Sister-in-law

Marital Status:

Widowed
[Widow]

Father's Birthplace:

Virginia

Mother's Birthplace:

Virginia

Able to Read:

Yes

Able to Write:

Yes

Neighbors:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Tom W Allen	37
Nina Allen	41
Thomas E Allen	8
Caroline Allen	6
Sam Harrigen Allen	4
George Allen	2
George Allen	24
Edmund Allen	20
Blanche Kernochan	55

In 1930, she and another sister, the never-married Willie, are living together.

Blanch Kernachan
[Blan A Hemacan]

Gender:

Female

Birth Year:

abt 1859

Birthplace:

Virginia

Race:

White

Home in 1930:

South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia
View Map

Marital Status:

Widowed

Relation to Head of House:

Head

Father's Birthplace:

Virginia

Mother's Birthplace:

Virginia

Occupation:

Education:

Military Service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:

Neighbors:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Blanch Kernachan	71
Willie H Moore	46

A 1922 Lawsuit Moore v Kernachan, is brought up as a cited case and took place in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It is a suit involving S. T. Moore, in his own right, as executor of E. A. Moore, deceased against one Kernachan and others. As S. T. Moore was likely Samuel Moore, Jr. and E. A Moore, their mother Elva and the Kernachan he vs. was likely Blanche, the only known Kernachan in Mecklenburg County, Virginia at that time.

Moore vs Kernachan, Mecklenburg County, Virginia

Blanche Kernachan

Age:

Estimated Birth Year:

abt 1859

Gender:

Female

Race:

White

Birthplace:

Virginia

Marital Status:

Widowed

Relation to Head of House:

Sister

Home in 1940:

South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia
View Map

Inferred Residence in 1935:

South Hill, Mecklenburg, Virginia

Residence in 1935:

Same House

Sheet Number:

Attended School or College:

Highest Grade Completed:

College, 1st year

Weeks Worked in 1939:

Income:

Income Other Sources:

Yes

Neighbors:

Household Members:

Name	Age
Nine M Allen	59
Samuel H Allen	25
George R Allen	22
Blanche Kernachan	81
Willie H Moore	57
Howard Baswell	34
Preston Ozmor	18

In her last census, Blanche is back living with Nina again.

She is buried in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and noted as the wife of Robert T. Kernachan, but where are her sons? They are not buried with her.

Blanche Moore Kernachan
Birth Date:	1859
Age at Death:	83
Death Date:	1942
Burial Place:	South Hill, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, USA
URL:	http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-...

Her sister and at the same time, sister-in-law Elva, named for their mother, died young at age 59. They had married brothers. Blanche is mentioned in her obituary, yet an obituary for Blanche can not be located. Elva named her son Robert T. Kernachan. He would have the the fifth Robert in the known line.

Link to Elva's Obituary

So what happened to the young sons of Robert and Blanche? Did they die between 1888, when mentioned by their grandmother and their mother's return to college? Did she leave them with relatives?

What happened to Robert 4 and Moore? Two little boys of no further mention.

↧

The Sisters Kernachan

June 2, 2013, 4:59 am

≫ Next: James Chappell Malone

≪ Previous: The Missing Kernachans: Robert IV and Moore

"Sister" KERNACHAN born Mecklenburg Co., Va., Nov. 3, 1791; died March 1, 1847; moved to Tenn. in 1818; married Abram Kernachan (died March 12, 1833), 1820, and settled in Lauderdale Co., Ala. the same year; four daughters and one son. She married, as a widow, to Robert Kernachan, May 1834.

April 2, 1847
GENEALOGICAL ABSTRACTS FROM REPORTED DEATHS
THE NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE 1847-1849
By Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 2003

In the above obituary for Martha W. Booth Kernachan, it mentions that she was the mother of 4 daughters and one son. I've so far concentrated on her son, Robert T. Kernachan, Jr. and his descendants, today, I will take a quick look at the 4 Kernachan sisters. They were ladies of good breeding, and married well, but not ones of luck.

The 4 were: Mariah C b 1822, Eliza Ann 1823, Matilda Bloomfield 1826 and Mary Lucy 1829.

Mariah and her husband Isaac B. are buried in the Kernachan cemetery in Colbert County, Alabama.

WILLIAMS, Isaac B.      5 Apr AD 1812 5 Mar AD 1853 aged 39 yrs 11 mos 10 das
WILLIAMS, Maria C.**       6 Apr 1822    1 Sep 1851 aged 29 yrs 4 mos 25 das
   **Consort of Isaac B. Williams & daughter of Abram & Martha Kernachan

ame:	Mariah Kernachan
Spouse:	Isaac B William
Marriage Date:	21 Nov 1838
County:	Lauderdale
State:	Alabama
Source information:	Hunting For Bears

They were married in 1838, and appear in the 1850 census of Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Mariah Williams

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1822

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1850:

Florence, Lauderdale, Alabama

Gender:

Female

Family Number:

906

Household Members:

Name	Age
Isaac Williams	30
Mariah Williams	28

Sadly, both Mariah and her husband died within just a few years of this census, she in 1851 and he in 1853. There are no records or tombstones indicating that they ever had children, or what they died of. Mariah's death was reported in the Nashville Christian Advocate, a paper that was actually published by a relative.

From the Nashville Christian Advocate: Oct 2, 1851

Maria Williams, wife of James Williams, Daughter of Abram and Martha Kernachan, died September 1, 1851, in the 30th year of her age.

Her husband was incorrectly named as "James". His tombstone and the marriage license both record his name as Isaac B. Williams. He was born in Kentucky and was the son of Daniel Williams, who also migrated to Alabama.

The second daughter, Eliza Ann, also lived a very brief life. Born December 3, 1823, she died May 21, 1845, at the age of 21. She was the blushing young bride of her cousin, Frances Harwood Jones, who would remarry and have a family, and become a state representative. She may have died in childbirth, as many young women did in those days.

From the Nashville Christian Advocate:

March 12, 1881

Colonel FRANCIS H. JONES born Mecklenburg Co., No. Carolina, June 1, 1809; died near Courtland, Ala., February 3, 1881; married (1) Frances Brown; (2) Ann Eliza Kernachan; (3) Antoinette A. Lile, six children; represented Lawrence Co., Ala. in state legislature several terms; had lived briefly years before in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The article mentions that Col Jones lived briefly in Cincinatti, Ohio. It was this time during his marriage to Eliza. The Kernachans had family in Cincinatti, and kept in touch for generations. They were the children of Andrew Kernachan, younger brother of Abraham and Robert, who had remained in Tennesee, after they had migrated there from Pennsylvania, where they first arrived after leaving Donegal, Ireland. The Kernachans kept in touch with and visited the Cincinatti family for generations.

The third daughter was Matilda Bloomfield Kernachan. The first name "Matilda Bloomfield" was a name, like "Minerva Tazwell" that was passed through the Jones, Booth and Simmons families that originated in Southside Virginia, for generations. They were likely the names of very early Matriarchs. Minerva Tazewell may have been a member of the Tazewell family for who Tazewell County was named, and had married into the Booth/Jones family.

Matilda B was born May 16, 1826. She and her husband James Cary Jones, are both buried in the Kernachan cemetery as well. Not only was James C. Jones her cousin, he was also the brother of her sisters Eliza's husband Francis Harwood Jones. Although she was born in the Shoals, and buried there, she did not live there her entire life.

Matilda B Jones
[Matilda B Noel]

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1825

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1850:

Athens, Limestone, Alabama

Gender:

Female

Family Number:

644

Household Members:

Name	Age
James C Jones	31
Matilda B Jones	25
Eliza A Jones	4
Mary L S Jones	0
Sarah noll Jones	67
Rebecca Sammond	39
Ellen Sammond	21
Rebecca M Sammond	17
Amanda Harriet	36

In 1850, they had moved to Limestone County and daughters Eliza Ann and Mary "LuLu" had been born. Also in the household were great-aunt Sarah "Sallie" Booth Noel, (transcriber mistakenly named her 'Noll Jones' when it fact, it actually just says "Noel".) and sister-in-law Rebecca Ann Charlotte Jones Simmons with her two daughters, Ellen, who would marry Robert T. Kernachan Jr, Matilda's brother and Rebecca Minerva Simmons. I believe Amanda Harriett was a member of the Jones or Simmons family, but have not yet placed her.

By 1860, they had moved to Caddo Parrish, Louisiana with other members of the family, including Vinkler Harwood Jones.

M B Jones

Age in 1860:

Birth Year:

abt 1826

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1860:

Ward 1, Caddo, Louisiana

Gender:

Female

Post Office:

Shreveport

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
J C Jones	40
M B Jones	34
A E Jones	13
M L Jones	10
S B Jones	8

Daughter Sarah Bloomfield Jones had joined the family.

By 1870, the family had moved to Gavelston, Texas. By then, daughter Eliza Ann (or Ann Eliza as she is sometimes seen, has married William B Norris (transcription error in census again), and the young couple are living with her parents, along with younger children William and Sally and a sister of William Norris, an employee and an unknown young girl named Louisa Oakley.

Name:

Matilda B Jones

Age in 1870:

Birth Year:

abt 1826

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1870:

Galveston Ward 2, Galveston, Texas

Race:

White

Gender:

Female

Post Office:

Galveston

Value of real estate:

Household Members:

Name	Age
James O Jones	54
Matilda B Jones	44
Lula Jones	30
William E Jones	9
Sally Jones	1
Wm B Morris	22
E amra Morris	32
Jane C Morris	13
M Littleford	48
Louisa Oakley	13

By 1880, the family has returned to Louisiana, to the Lake Charles area. Both James and his son-in-law W. B. Norris became sucessful lumbermen.

Name:

Matilda B. Jones

Age:

Birth Year:

abt 1828

Birthplace:

Alabama

Home in 1880:

Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana

Race:

White

Gender:

Female

Relation to Head of House:

Wife

Marital Status:

Married

Spouse's Name:

James C. Jones

Father's Birthplace:

Ireland

Mother's Birthplace:

Virginia

Neighbors:

Occupation:

Keeps House

Cannot read/write:

Blind:

Deaf and dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane: