The Will of James Turner

Will of James Turner of Anson County, dated April of 1843. NC Archives.

Going on two hint, or pieces of information, in my search for the origins of my 3rd Great Grandfather, George Washington Turner, I found a possible link to a James Turner, who was alive in 1840, living near the Rev. Uriah Staton, and not alive in 1850.

I knew the Rev. Staton was a very important clue in my search, as he had deep ties to Rocky River Baptist Church, and was credited with having founded Red Hill Baptist Church. Red Hill Baptist Church is the church that George Washington Turner attended and was buried, and served as a delegate to and deacon of, as well as many other roles, according to the old records of the church.

Rev. Staton was also closely tied to the Rev. Samuel P. Morton, sort of an anchor to his kayak, the father-in-law of G. W. Turner, and my ancestor, then, as well.

My cellphone photo from May 2019 of Red Hill Baptist Church

My other clue was the 1880 census, when the mother of G. W. Turner had come to live with him, and her name was Mary.  I found Mary and Washington in the 1850 census. Also in the home was a Martha, not far in age from Mary.

Name:	Mary Turner
Age:	34
Birth Year:	abt 1816
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1850:	Cedar Hill, Anson, North Carolina, USA
Gender:	Female
Family Number:	666
Household Members:	Name Age Martha Turner 32 Mary Turner 34 Washington Turner 16

Right below Martha and Mary Turner, in the very next homestead, is a young couple, Thomas and Chloa Martin Turner. Chloa is the daughter of John Martin, whose name keeps popping up as a neighbor of the Turners, as a witness on the will of James Turner (d 1843) and in land records.

James Turner in the 1840 census, family make up is below.

Name:	James Turner
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):	Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9:	1 George Washington Turner
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:	2 Mary and Martha
Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79:	1 Probably mistake, has to be James, male
Slaves - Males - Under 10:	1
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:	2
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:	1
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:	1
Persons Employed in Agriculture:	5
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write:	3
Free White Persons - Under 20:	1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	2
Total Free White Persons:	4
Total Slaves:	5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:	9

In the 1840 census, right next to Uriah Staton, who was the minister that George Washington Turner purchased land from in 1872. There's a Richmond Turner nearby, and other familiar names.

The dash in the transcript is an error. This is James, who was alive, his wife obviously long since passed, and his two single daughters and grandson, Washington living near him.







So, there again, is the name of John Martin, and a new name has been brought into the fold, and I will find, he is an important and interesting clue to follow as well, Reddick Drew. Knowing a tad bit about the history of Anson County, I knew that the clerk, N. D. Boggan, was none other than Norfleet Drew Boggan. As names usually were left like a trail of cookie crumbs to be followed if you were quick and 'fleet' enough, I wondered if there was a family connection between Reddick Drew and Norfleet Drew Boggan.

So now I am two more generations back. Mary, daughter of James, was the daughter of G. W. Turner, and James was his grandfather. James also had 7 other children: Axum, Nancy, Susan, 'Sary' (probably Sarah), Martha, James and Lazarus.

I'd found Martha, at least, living with Mary, in 1850. The other names were so common, I may not be able to find them. Were Nancy, Susan and Sary married? He didn't say. And James? Needle in a haystack. But Axum and Lazarus? I could possibly have some luck there.