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The North-CarolinianFayetteville, North Carolina08 Apr 1848, Sat • Page 3
I made the acquaintance of Drusilla Beasley while researching the family of William and Susanna Gurley Seigler. Their family is piecemeal, several daughters just disappearing with no trace and possible grandchildren appearing out of nowhere.
Drucilla, who, as a newlywed, lived right next door to Susanna Gurley Seigler in 1860, is seen in the census as "Nicey", which is also a nickname for Eunice. As the Seiglers had a daughter by that name who disappears between 1850 and 1860, I considered the possibility that Samuel and Nicey "Cook" were related to the Seiglers and that "Nicey" was Eunice. But, alas, it was another transcription error and Samuel Cook was actually Samuel Crook, a son of Victory Crook, a neighbor along Richardson Creek who had many transactions and contact with the Seiglers as far as thier farms connected, their land adjoined, the families intermingled, purchases at estate sales, witnessing of deeds and the like.
| Name: | Nicy Cook | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 20 | ||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1840 | ||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||
| Birth Place: | North Carolina | ||||||
| Home in 1860: | Union, North Carolina | ||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 790 | ||||||
| Family Number: | 790 | ||||||
| Occupation: | Servant | ||||||
| Married Within Year: | Yes | ||||||
| Household Members: |
|
Drucilla is a servant and her husband is a Day Laborer. As they live next to Susanna Seigler and she lives next to her brother, Daniel Gurley, I wondered if the young couple worked for them.
| Name: | Drucella Beasley |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Marriage Date: | 1 Mar 1859 |
| Marriage Place: | Union, North Carolina, USA |
| Spouse: | Samuel Crook |
| Spouse Gender: | Male |
| Event Type: | Marriage |
Samuel and Drucilla married the year before the 1860 census in Union County, North Carolina. The marriage was doomed due to one big unforeseen, tragic event called the Civil War. Sam, a young man just starting afoot in his adult life was sucked in as one of the disposable toy soldiers.
Having enlisted in March of 1862, Samuel first mustered in Salisbury, NC. By early fall, he had made it to Wilmington and from there deserted. Remarks from his military records at Fold3.com for the September- October muster show that he deserted on October 9,1862 and was "now in Jail at Monroe, NC". It appears he was caught after having made it home. Samuel found war not to be to his liking.
He had taken sick, too. A muster from May 21, 1862 stated he was with Youngs Battalion and suffering from Acute Bronchitis.
In December of 1863, it was noted that he was "undergoing sentence of General Court Martial at Smith's Island for Absence without leave".
In March of 1864, "Absent, Was dropped from last roll for desertion, but returned to his (illegible).......undergoing his sentence at Bald Head".
In the May and June muster of 1864, "Undergoing sentence for Genl' Court Martial... Bald Head."
There was no record of an execution, however, we find in his estate papers, in his home county of Union that his widow, Drucilla declared that he had died in December of 1864.
"The Petition of Drucilla Crook complaining.....showeth that Samuel Crook died sometime in December 1864....possessed of some personal property."
Drucilla applied for her dower.But before I go on to what happened to Drucilla Beasley Crook after the death of Samuel, I found a most riveting story concerning where she came from in the first place.
Murder ballads were a traditional form ballad that told the story of a tragic death, written by local peoples that told a story and passed down in generations. They had originated in England and Lowland Scotland and came across the waves with the colonists and survived well into the 20th Century.
Looking into the origins of Drusilla Beasley, I came across the Ballad of Patsy Beasley.
Martha "Patsy" Beasley was the mother of Drusilla Beasley, and in the anuls of old Anson and Union Counties, poor Patsy had acquired her own Murder Ballad.
The below information comes from the site, "Bluegrass Messengers", concerning "Hand-me-down Ballads"by a Mr. Helms in the 1970's.
http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/hand-me-down-songs-union-co-nc--helms.aspxPatsy Beasley
This local murder ballad and the remnants of its history are a good example of the function of oral tradition music. It has preserved through rong the account of an actual murder which took place in 1844 in a portion of territory then included as Anson County, North Carolina. Some singers try to cover this fact by replacing the precise name with the general state.
The story according to residents today goes as follows:
Patsy Beasley had one small child, about a year and a half old, which she left at the house whiie she went down to the spring to do the family washing. Several days later her body was found brutally murdered. Some say her little child was crawling around her, while others believe the child was found asleep in its bed. The only logical suspect at that time was her former boyfriend. Since there were no fencing laws at that time, neighbors built a rail fence around her body to protect it from wild animals until the inquisition. Community feeling was so strong against the boyfriend that he had to be moved to another county for his trial. Three years passed before he was actually convicted and sentenced to hang. Motives for this murder were and still are very vague, with many people declaring to this day that he was innocent. After one unsuccessful attempt to hang him (the rope broke dropping him safely to the ground), officials proceeded to try again, despite the belief that the rope's breaking was an omen signifying his innocence. Several years later a prisoner in a local penitentiary was overheard to say that he was actually the one who had killed Patsy Beasley.
Patsy Beasley
1. Come young and old, Come great and small,
The invitation is to all.
A harmless one and there she lay,
Exposed by night and by day.
2 And Patsy Beasley was her name
In North Carolina she was slain.
Down by the brook her body lay,
The villain took her life away.
3 Her skull was crushed, her hair was torn,
Her arms were bruised to the bone,
A little child alone was left,
To live with others or starve to death.
4 The people asked, they wondered why,
How she was killed and how she died.
How sad it was, such an awful fate,
Get right with God, don't wait too late.
Hand-Me-Down Songs (Union Co., NC)- Helms; 1982
| Name: | Drucilla Beasley | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 7 | ||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1843 | ||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Home in 1850: | Union, North Carolina, USA | ||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||
| Family Number: | 942 | ||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
So this was the sad beginnings of the life of Drucilla Beasley. She was born in 1843 to a single woman, Martha Beasley, better known as Patsy. Patsy was the daughter of John and Ala Snipes Beasley. These individuals all lived in the area of Richardsons Creek, with the other families there I have been researching. The above census is the 1850 one of Union County, showing Drucilla living with her grandparents and her young aunt.
Patsy had made the mistake of involving herself with one Thomas Madison Nash, born about 1819, son of Walker and Edna Nash. He had promised her marriage, but sadly, that never occured.
In 1843, a daughter, Drucilla, was born to them, and in 1844, when Drusilla was barely a toddler, her 24 year old mother was found brutally murdered and her 25 year old father was the prime suspect.
I followed the story through various accounts in the old newspapers of the day.
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The Greensboro PatriotGreensboro, North Carolina11 Sep 1847, Sat • Page 3
There were varying accounts of the exact circumstances of the death of Patsy Beasley, but a few facts stood out.She lived in a separate dwelling at the edge of her father's property, said to be near the store of one Jesse Parker. She left her one year old daughter, Drusilla, alone in the house, possibly napping, while she went down to a spring to the washing. There she encountered a terrible fate. She had been shot in the arm, and beaten nearly beyond recognition. A twenty-four pound stone had been used to crush her skull. She had been beaten with the butt of a gun and 'stomped" as well, it was reported.
Her body was not found for a day and a half, during which time the baby was alone and crawling around.Attempts were made, probably by family and friends on the side of Tom Nash, the accused, to sully her reputation even more than having an out-of-wedlock child would, by saying she was "visited" by other men than just he, a kinder, gentler way of calling her a prostitute. But there was immediate blame and instant knowledge of who the father of her child was among the community. Their thoughts went immediately to Tom Nash.
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The North-CarolinianFayetteville, North Carolina18 Sep 1847, Sat • Page 3
The trial of Tom Nash bounced around like a ping pond ball for a bit, as his attorneys looked for a place to have a fair trial. So horrid, so brutal, so unimaginally violent was the murder of this young woman, that the community around was enraged. There was not soul in sight with compassion in their heart for Tom Nash. All were biased and eager for justice. But who was Tom Nash?
Thomas Madison Nash was born about 1819 in Anson County. He was the son of Walker Nash and his wife Edith (or Edna). The Walker Nashes had 3 known children, Thomas, a younger son named Abner, and daughter named Lovey who is named as a defense witness in the court papers.
I believe the Walker Nash family, and perhaps other Nashes in the area, are related to the Governor Abner Nash/ Thomas Walker Nash family out of Prince Edward County, Virginia.
Walker Nash died while Tom Nash was in custody, about 1847.
| Name: | Eda Nash | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||
| Age: | 50 | ||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1800 | ||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||
| Home in 1850: | Union, North Carolina, USA | ||||||||
| Real Estate: | 200 | ||||||||
| Cannot Read, Write: | Y | ||||||||
| Line Number: | 8 | ||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 1234 | ||||||||
| Family Number: | 1234 | ||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
Above is his mother in the 1850 census. I don't know who Mary Whitington was, but as I had a second great grandmother marry a Whittington, I need to look into it.
| Name: | Eady Nash | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 71 | ||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1789 | ||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Home in 1860: | Union, North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Post Office: | Olive Branch | ||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 568 | ||||||||||||
| Family Number: | 554 | ||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Knitter | ||||||||||||
| Cannot Read, Write: | Y | ||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
Youngest son, Abner, married Martha Hill, a GGGGreat Aunt of mine, daughter and they had two sons, Millard Filmore Nash and James Benton Nash. Abner Nash lost his life in the Civil War. All known Nash descendants of Walker and Edith are from these two sons of Abner. And from Drusilla, the baby whose mother their son Tom Nash so cruelly murdered. I don't know what happened to Lovey after the trial, whether she died or married after the trial, or just moved away. Poor Edie is working as a knitter at 71 and the family is living in Olive Branch in Union County. Olive Branch is near Anson and was part of Anson until 1842.
| Name: | Edney Nash [Eda Nash] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1870: | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1780 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 355 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1870: | New Salem, Union, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||||||||
| Post Office: | Olive Branch | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | No Occupation | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cannot Read: | Y | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cannot Write: | Y | ||||||||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
In 1870, they aged Edith a bit, making her 90 and she is living with the McIntyres in New Salem, just 3 miles from Olive Branch. Martha McIntyre is her daughter-in-law, Martha Hill Nash, and Millard and James B are really Nashes and not McIntyres.
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The Raleigh RegisterRaleigh, North Carolina22 Apr 1848, Sat • Page 2
Martha "Patsy" Beasley was murdered on August 5, 1844.
Almost immediately, the name of the most likely suspect came to mind to the people of Olive Branch. Tom Nash, who had "ruined" Patsy Beasley and was now wanting to marry Mary Whitley, but one person stood in the way, the woman whom he went to as he wanted, Patsy Beasley.
 |
| New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery from Find-a-Grave |
New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church lies between the town of Burnsville, in Anson County and Olive Branch in Union County, two places that can hardly be referred to as 'towns' today. It sits within Anson, on the border of the two counties along Jerusalem Church Road that leads from Olive Branch to Burnsville. One can only assume that the location of Old Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church was nearby the presently standing more modern building. The names etched on the tombstones in the old cemetery, that carries a mix of older and more modern stones, still reflect the names of families that have lived on this land since before 1844, and still do to this day. Helms, Edwards, Thomas, Baucom, but the name of Nash does not appear. Indeed, they must have been shamed out of the church.
Jersalem was the church attended by the Nash family and perhaps also, the Beasley family. As accounted in a 1964 article in 'The Salisbury Post' out of Rowan County, NC by staff writer Heath Thomas, (I wonder if he was related to any of the Thomas family buried in the churchyard?), soon after the gruesome murder, the community gathered in church as always, and a heavy cloud of dismay may have covered the atmosphere in the small building. An unnamed Primitive Baptist Minister made a accusal and a proclaimation that he had likely never made before, as in his congregation was one Thomas Nash, with his family, and the mindset in the community was in accordance on one idea, one suspicion, one allegation. The article recounts the event as follows:
(The minister) "was preaching his Sunday sermon at Jerusalem Church and he laid a rather large flint rock on the pulpit. As he denounced the foul murder of Patsy Beasley, he suddenly seized the rock and said: "The man who killed Patsy Beasley is in this church house and I am going to smash his head with this rock." He picked up the stone and drew back his arm as if to hurl it."
This profession stunned and terrified one young man in the congregation. He acted on instinct and thus, gave away his guilt. It was a standard, hot muggy August Sunday in the South, more than a century before air conditioning. Ladies sat fanning themselves on the benches with their carefully folded paper fans. Gentlemen used the hats in their laps to fan away flies. The windows were open in hopes of a breeze to blow through and flys and bees took advantage of the open windows to explore. Tom Nash took advantage of the windows to escape. As the article described; "Young Tom Nash jumped through an open window and ran like a jackrabbit".
The sherriff had his suspicions, but now he had an involuntary admission of guilt. Tom's rifle was found and the stock was found to be bloody. He now had the physical and circumstantial evidence to make an arrest, along with a motive.
Tom Nash was arraigned in Wadesboro in September of 1844. A Grand Jury, headed by George Dunlap read the minutes in Raleigh and Judge John L. Bailey ordered a continuance until March. The defence asked for the trial to be moved because of the prejudice against Thomas Nash in the area, but also not to move the trial to Richmond County because of the prejudice against him there. Perhaps the Beasley's had relatives there.
The trial was transferred to the September Term in Stanly County and again, the defense had appealed for the trial to be moved in order for Tom to get a fair hearing. The people of Stanly had said that hanging was to good for him, that he should be burned at the stake.
They also asked for the trial not to be held in Union County, where Patsy's family lived. The Nashes lived on the Anson County side and the Beasley's on the Union side of the Anson/Union line.
September 3, 1845, the judge ruled that the trial be moved to Montgomery County, NC at the request of John Beasley and Eben Gurley, witnesses for the prosecution.
Again, Tom asked for a continuance due to the fact that Edith Nash, his mother and Lovey Nash, his sister, material witnesses for the defense, were detained at home with a severe illness and that his father, Walker Nash had died "Monday a week ago", meaning February 17, 1845. Elishateal Veal, a jailor in Anson County, was also a material witness.
He returned to Troy, Montgomery County, in March of 1846. In Montgomery, C. W. Wooley ordered him transferred back to Wadesboro to be held until August of 1846, until the last Monday in the month, for him to stand trial.
 |
| The historic Montgomery County Courthouse |
A Union County Ballad was written by Douglas and Karen Helms of Wingate University.
The ballad was recorded by Henry Griffin of Marshville.
The ballad was recorded by Henry Griffin of Marshville.
The Ballad of Patsy Beasley
Come old and young, come great and small,
The invitation is to all.
A harmless one, and there she lay,
Although exposed to night and day.
And Patsy Beasley was her name,
In Anson County she was slain.
Down by the spring her body lay.
The villian took her life away.
The people said, they wondered why?
How she was killed and how she died?
Her skull was crushed, her hair was torn.
Her arms were bruised all through the bone.
Her little child alone was left.
To live with others or starve to death.
How sad it was, this awful fate.
Get right with God, don't wait too late.
August Term of Court in the year 1846, the presiding judge was Judge Thomas Little. The prosecuting attorney was Robert Strange, who had been following him from county to county. This time the State asked for a continuance. John Beasley, Patsy's father, had stated that Mary Whitley was a very important material witness for the state, who he had expected to testify that Tom Nash had admitted that he was guilty of the murder. She had been the girl who had rebuked Tom because of his relationship with Patsy, that threw Tom into a murderous tailspin. He had killed Patsy so he could be with Mary and now she was to testify against him.
John Beasley stated that Mary had attended prior sessions, and could prove admissions of the defendant that he was guilty, but at the moment she was very pregnant, "so far advanced as to render it very unsafe for her to attend the present term of court".
Finally, after a number of continuances, changes of venue and a delay of 3 years, Thomas Madison Nash had his day in court. It was a hot, muggy day in August of 1847 in Troy, Montgomery County, North Carolina. about 32 miles from where the murder occured.
The judge was the Honorable David Franklin Caldwell, a resident of Rowan County, who was known statewide for his wisdom and fairness. A jury was called from all corners of Montgomery, from the Uwharries to the Sandhills; William Cagle, Kindred Shandley, William Hurley, Edmund Hearne, James Hall, Norman McCaskill, Burgys Goings, Boon McArthur, Norman Martin, John C Nichols, Valentine Moore, James W Hamilton.
It lasted 3 Days and Tom Nash was sentenced to hang on Friday, October 8, 1847 for the grievous murder of Patsy Beasley.
Finally, after a number of continuances, changes of venue and a delay of 3 years, Thomas Madison Nash had his day in court. It was a hot, muggy day in August of 1847 in Troy, Montgomery County, North Carolina. about 32 miles from where the murder occured.
The judge was the Honorable David Franklin Caldwell, a resident of Rowan County, who was known statewide for his wisdom and fairness. A jury was called from all corners of Montgomery, from the Uwharries to the Sandhills; William Cagle, Kindred Shandley, William Hurley, Edmund Hearne, James Hall, Norman McCaskill, Burgys Goings, Boon McArthur, Norman Martin, John C Nichols, Valentine Moore, James W Hamilton.
It lasted 3 Days and Tom Nash was sentenced to hang on Friday, October 8, 1847 for the grievous murder of Patsy Beasley.
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The North-Carolinian
Fayetteville, North Carolina06 May 1848, Sat • Page 2
The 4 Ministers: It took my imagination to envision the Death Wagon, which had brought Tom Nash to his demise. A Four-Horse Wagon, wherein the Sheriff had placed Tom in the middle of the wagon, bound, with a rope around his neck. He must have been a sight, a good-looking young man, blonde, dressed all in white, 'including his hat. no doubt his dress was chosen to look innocent, and I dare say, angelic. He was surrounded by 4 ministers, 2 Baptist, 2 Methodist, also described as good-looking, chosen perhaps to make and impact. I want to know who they were and came to the following conclusions"Rev Richard Jacks, Jr. a nephew of Rev. Richard Jacks Sr., a Baptist minister who was a circuit rider who would settle in Ashe County later in life.Rev. Noah Richardson of Moore and Montgomery Counties, a Baptist who preached for 45 years and for 27 sucessive years, elected to preach on Sundays at the meeting of his Association. At his funeral, he was hailed by Rev. James McDaniel of Fayetteville, of being the best Preacher in North Carolina.Rev. William Carlisle of Camden and Bennettsville, South Carolina, a young minister of Irish decenst known for his flashing good looks and fiery oratation. Rev. William Avant of Chatham County, North Carolina.![-]()
The article from The Carolinian continued in its description of the popular event and of the speech Tom Nash gave before his execution.
![-]()
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Fayetteville, North Carolina06 May 1848, Sat • Page 2
The 4 Ministers: It took my imagination to envision the Death Wagon, which had brought Tom Nash to his demise. A Four-Horse Wagon, wherein the Sheriff had placed Tom in the middle of the wagon, bound, with a rope around his neck. He must have been a sight, a good-looking young man, blonde, dressed all in white, 'including his hat. no doubt his dress was chosen to look innocent, and I dare say, angelic. He was surrounded by 4 ministers, 2 Baptist, 2 Methodist, also described as good-looking, chosen perhaps to make and impact. I want to know who they were and came to the following conclusions"Rev Richard Jacks, Jr. a nephew of Rev. Richard Jacks Sr., a Baptist minister who was a circuit rider who would settle in Ashe County later in life.Rev. Noah Richardson of Moore and Montgomery Counties, a Baptist who preached for 45 years and for 27 sucessive years, elected to preach on Sundays at the meeting of his Association. At his funeral, he was hailed by Rev. James McDaniel of Fayetteville, of being the best Preacher in North Carolina.Rev. William Carlisle of Camden and Bennettsville, South Carolina, a young minister of Irish decenst known for his flashing good looks and fiery oratation. Rev. William Avant of Chatham County, North Carolina.
The article from The Carolinian continued in its description of the popular event and of the speech Tom Nash gave before his execution.
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The North-Carolinian
Fayetteville, North Carolina06 May 1848, Sat • Page 2
And thus was the end of the life of Thomas Madison Nash. He was said to have been buried at home by his mother, and with help, I am sure, from his brother, if not others, on their property some distance from the Nash Family plot, as he was not wanted among his close relatives, no more than allowed in the church cemetery. A rosebush was planted to mark the site by his mother Edith, and was later proclaimed by a Miss Sandy Thomas who lived there decades later to be quiet beautiful. No one has ever reported seeing the ghost of Tom Nash, so it is expected he rests in peace.
But what about the orphaned child, Drucilla (Nash) Beasley?Her mother was murdered by her father when she was just over a year old. He seemed to have no concern of her, nor is recorded to have ever mentioned her in his testimony that I can find.She came into the care of her maternal grandparents, John and Ala "Aley" Snipes Beasley. At the early age of 16, she married a neighbor, Samuel Crook, son of Victory and Nancy Medlin Crook of Union County in 1859.The Civil War left her a widow at 21. In the very brief probate file of Samuel Crook, Drusilla Crook files for her one year's widow's allowance in the January Term of Court in Union County, North Carolina. Within Drusilla states he died in December of 1864.It was during this will that her beloved Grandfather, John Beasley also passed away. Drusilla's young life had been wrought with tragedy.John Beasley, in his will, ensured that his granddaugther, Drusilla, would be taken care of after the event of his death, despite her marriage.
John (X)Beasly (seal)A. T. Secrest
G. W. Helms
So this is where I had left off with Drusilla, in the aftermath of the Civil War. It appears family had a hand in her future, even then, as an adult at 21. Following court records seem to suggest she had Aunts who were quite jealous of her. The estate records of John and Ala Beasley (who died 3 years after her husband), are quite lengthy.Drusilla was married off to her first cousin, Noah Sharpe, and sent away.
![Cherokee County, Alabama, Map, 1911, Centre, Cedar Bluff, Gaylesville]()
Anna "Annie" Beasley, was the 4th daughter of John and Ala Snipes Beasley. In 1821, at the age of 13, Annie had married Emory M. Sharp in Anson County. They then settled in Jamestown, Cherokee County, Alabama along the Georgia border. Noah Eugene Sharp was the 7th of her 9 children. He was born in 1840 in Alabama.
In 1860, when Drusilla was living in Olive Branch, Union County, NC with her husband, Samuel Crook, Noah is living in David's Crossroads, Cherokee County, Alabama, with his parents, Emory and Annie Sharp, and his siblings, Ellen, Levi and Roena, a widow, and her 3 young children.
![Lincoln County, Tennessee Genealogy Genealogy - FamilySearch Wiki]()
Noah also served in the Civil War, but unlike Samuel Crook, had made it out alive. Though I can find no marriage record for Noah and Drusilla, they appear to have married soon after the death of Samuel Crook, in 1865. Their first child, Hettie Ann, was born on February 9, 1866, in Elmont Springs, Giles County, Tennesee.
The 1870 census would find the young family in neighboring Lincoln County, Tennesse, both on the Tennesee/Alabama border. Noah was a 30 year old farmer with 3 children, Hettie, Amanda and Sidney Allen Sharp. Drusilla apparently did not have any children with Samuel Crook.
Ten years later, Noah and Drucilla were still in Lincoln County, Tennesee, now ages 40 and 37, and the family had doubled in size from 3 to 6 children. Additions were Henry, Cynthia and Laodocia. Noah's father, Emory, died in 1867. His mother, Anna Beasley Sharp, remained in Cherokee County, Alabama until her death in 1889.
It may have been through some reason of inheritance that Noah Sharp returned with his family to Alabama. Noah and Drusilla would have 3 more children after the 1880 census, for a total of 9.1877 - Delpha or Delphia Sharp1881- John Preston Riley Sharp1883- Joel Wilson Sharp
Drusilla was 40 upon the birth of her last child and died in Limestone County, Alabama sometime after his birth and before the 1900 census.
Noah Sharp outlived Drusilla for several years. He appeared in the 1900 cenus living in Limestone County, Alabama with 3 of his children and 4 of his grandchildren.
In 1910, he's back in Giles County, Tennessee, living with his youngest son, Joel and his young family. He would pass away 5 years later, on April 16, 1915 in Limestone County, Alabama again, at the age of 74. It is believed that both Noah and Drusilla were buried in the Old Sharp Family Cemetery near Elmont or Ardmore on the Tennesee/Alabama State Line. The cemetery has been destroyed and the graves plowed under according to what I've been told. Some tombstones were saved.![Best Places to Live in Elkmont, Alabama]()
Noah and Drucilla's 9 children were:
A) Hetty Ann Sharp Culp b 1866 Giles County, TN d 1958 Athens, Limestone County, AL.B) Amanda D Sharp Holloway Esckstine b 1867 Giles County, TN d 1825 Ardmore, Limestone County, AL.C) Sidney Allen Sharp b 1870 Lincoln County, TN d 1935 Athens, Limestone County, ALD) Henry L Sharp b 1872 Madison County, AL d 1907 Rogersville, Limestone County, ALE) Cynthia S. Sharp b 1874 Alabama or Tennesee or North Carolina (NC on 1880 census) Death unknown.F) Ladocia Sharp b 1876 Tennesee or Alabama or North Carolina (Nc on 1880 census) Death unknown. Possibly married Burnett.G) Delphia Savannah Sharp Smith b 1877 Alabama d 1926 Holcomb, Dunklin County, MissouriH) John Preston Riley Sharp b 1881 Lincoln County, TN d 1856 St. Louis, MissouritI) Joel Wilson Sharp b 1883 Limestone County, AL d 1973 San Angelo, Tom Green County, TX
http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/hand-me-down-songs-union-co-nc--helms.aspx
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Fayetteville, North Carolina06 May 1848, Sat • Page 2
And thus was the end of the life of Thomas Madison Nash. He was said to have been buried at home by his mother, and with help, I am sure, from his brother, if not others, on their property some distance from the Nash Family plot, as he was not wanted among his close relatives, no more than allowed in the church cemetery. A rosebush was planted to mark the site by his mother Edith, and was later proclaimed by a Miss Sandy Thomas who lived there decades later to be quiet beautiful. No one has ever reported seeing the ghost of Tom Nash, so it is expected he rests in peace.
But what about the orphaned child, Drucilla (Nash) Beasley?Her mother was murdered by her father when she was just over a year old. He seemed to have no concern of her, nor is recorded to have ever mentioned her in his testimony that I can find.She came into the care of her maternal grandparents, John and Ala "Aley" Snipes Beasley. At the early age of 16, she married a neighbor, Samuel Crook, son of Victory and Nancy Medlin Crook of Union County in 1859.The Civil War left her a widow at 21. In the very brief probate file of Samuel Crook, Drusilla Crook files for her one year's widow's allowance in the January Term of Court in Union County, North Carolina. Within Drusilla states he died in December of 1864.It was during this will that her beloved Grandfather, John Beasley also passed away. Drusilla's young life had been wrought with tragedy.John Beasley, in his will, ensured that his granddaugther, Drusilla, would be taken care of after the event of his death, despite her marriage.
In the name of God Amen. I John Beasley of the County of Union in the State of North Carolina; being of sound mind and knowledg knowing the uncertainty of Life do Therefour make publish ordain and declare this to Be my Last will and Testament that is to say after all my lawfull Debts shall have been paid and discharged I will and bequeath un to my [Beloved] wife all my tract of land where I now live on at this time Except the Portion that I have heretofore give off to Samuel Crook & wife Drusilla During her natural Life also all my house hold and Kitchen furniture consisting of Every thing in the houses of mine also my stock of Horses and Cattle and hogs & All of the produce of corn and wheat and meat on hand And all of the pottery on hand at my death Consisting of everythng on hand at my death to make use of at her Disposal. (2.) I give and bequeath unto my Grand daughter Druscilla Crook wife os Samuel Crook Five acres of land adjoining the Lands I heretofore have give them. (3.) I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Alla Pusser one fourth part of this tract of land where I know live on at the death of my wife & myself it being apart of the south & west ajoining the lands of Wm. H. Simpson And the Big Survey taken the place or improvements where Victor Crook lives Supoosed to be about twenty seven Acres and one fourth of an acre.
(4. I give and bequeath unto my three Daughters Lucindy Sikes and Mary Harrison and Annie Sharp the balance of my Tract of land to be equally devided between them the place where I Now live on at the Death of my wife or widow (5.) I give & bequeath unto my daughter Keziah Kelly all of the property I have heretofore have give her and know more Except the Tract of Land which she has onely a Lifetime Rite to of 88 acres ajoining the Lands of Thomas J. Griffin and Daniel Smith and others.
(6.) I Direct that the tract of Land above mentioned to be sold the tract ajoining the lands of Thomas J. Griffin and Daniel Smith & others and the proceeds arising from it to be applied to paying Debts and the balance if any to be devided between my four Daughters Lucindy Sikes & Mary Harrison And Annie Sharp & Alla Pusser March The 14th day 1861 In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal.
(4. I give and bequeath unto my three Daughters Lucindy Sikes and Mary Harrison and Annie Sharp the balance of my Tract of land to be equally devided between them the place where I Now live on at the Death of my wife or widow (5.) I give & bequeath unto my daughter Keziah Kelly all of the property I have heretofore have give her and know more Except the Tract of Land which she has onely a Lifetime Rite to of 88 acres ajoining the Lands of Thomas J. Griffin and Daniel Smith and others.
(6.) I Direct that the tract of Land above mentioned to be sold the tract ajoining the lands of Thomas J. Griffin and Daniel Smith & others and the proceeds arising from it to be applied to paying Debts and the balance if any to be devided between my four Daughters Lucindy Sikes & Mary Harrison And Annie Sharp & Alla Pusser March The 14th day 1861 In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal.
G. W. Helms
Minuet Dockett
Page 328
Page 328
So this is where I had left off with Drusilla, in the aftermath of the Civil War. It appears family had a hand in her future, even then, as an adult at 21. Following court records seem to suggest she had Aunts who were quite jealous of her. The estate records of John and Ala Beasley (who died 3 years after her husband), are quite lengthy.Drusilla was married off to her first cousin, Noah Sharpe, and sent away.
Anna "Annie" Beasley, was the 4th daughter of John and Ala Snipes Beasley. In 1821, at the age of 13, Annie had married Emory M. Sharp in Anson County. They then settled in Jamestown, Cherokee County, Alabama along the Georgia border. Noah Eugene Sharp was the 7th of her 9 children. He was born in 1840 in Alabama.
| Name: | Naah Sharp [Noah Sharp] | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1842 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Alabama | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1860: | District 3, Cherokee, Alabama | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Post Office: | David Crossroad | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 587 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Family Number: | 587 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
In 1860, when Drusilla was living in Olive Branch, Union County, NC with her husband, Samuel Crook, Noah is living in David's Crossroads, Cherokee County, Alabama, with his parents, Emory and Annie Sharp, and his siblings, Ellen, Levi and Roena, a widow, and her 3 young children.
| Name: | Noah Sharp | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1870: | 30 | ||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1840 | ||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | Alabama | ||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 188 | ||||||||||||
| Home in 1870: | District 17, Lincoln, Tennessee | ||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||
| Post Office: | Pleasant Plains | ||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Farmer | ||||||||||||
| Male Citizen over 21: | Y | ||||||||||||
| Personal Estate Value: | 100 | ||||||||||||
| Inferred Spouse: | Drucilla Sharp | ||||||||||||
| Inferred Children: | M D Sharp S A Sharp H S Sharp | ||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
The 1870 census would find the young family in neighboring Lincoln County, Tennesse, both on the Tennesee/Alabama border. Noah was a 30 year old farmer with 3 children, Hettie, Amanda and Sidney Allen Sharp. Drusilla apparently did not have any children with Samuel Crook.
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Noah Sharp | 40 |
| Drusella Sharp | 37 |
| Hetty A. Sharp | 14 |
| Amanda Sharp | 12 |
| Sidney Sharp | 10 |
| Henry S. Sharp | 8 |
| Gynthia S. Sharp | 6 |
| Laodicia Sharp | 4 |
| Name: | Annie Sharp | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 80 | ||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | Abt 1800 | ||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||
| Home in 1880: | Cherokee, Alabama, USA | ||||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 58 | ||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Mother | ||||||||||||||
| Marital status: | Widowed | ||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||
| Cannot Write: | Yes | ||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
It may have been through some reason of inheritance that Noah Sharp returned with his family to Alabama. Noah and Drusilla would have 3 more children after the 1880 census, for a total of 9.1877 - Delpha or Delphia Sharp1881- John Preston Riley Sharp1883- Joel Wilson Sharp
Drusilla was 40 upon the birth of her last child and died in Limestone County, Alabama sometime after his birth and before the 1900 census.
Noah Sharp outlived Drusilla for several years. He appeared in the 1900 cenus living in Limestone County, Alabama with 3 of his children and 4 of his grandchildren.
| Name: | Noah Sharp | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1910: | 69 | ||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1841 | ||||||||||
| Birthplace: | Alabama | ||||||||||
| Home in 1910: | Civil District 1, Giles, Tennessee | ||||||||||
| Street: | Elkmont Springs And Huntsville | ||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | ||||||||||
| Marital status: | Widowed | ||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Native Tongue: | English | ||||||||||
| Occupation: | Farmer | ||||||||||
| Industry: | General Farm | ||||||||||
| Employer, Employee or Other: | Employer | ||||||||||
| Home Owned or Rented: | Own | ||||||||||
| Home Free or Mortgaged: | Free | ||||||||||
| Farm or House: | Farm | ||||||||||
| Able to Read: | Yes | ||||||||||
| Able to Write: | Yes | ||||||||||
| Survivor of Union or Confederate Army or Navy: | Yes | ||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||
| Household Members: |
|
In 1910, he's back in Giles County, Tennessee, living with his youngest son, Joel and his young family. He would pass away 5 years later, on April 16, 1915 in Limestone County, Alabama again, at the age of 74. It is believed that both Noah and Drusilla were buried in the Old Sharp Family Cemetery near Elmont or Ardmore on the Tennesee/Alabama State Line. The cemetery has been destroyed and the graves plowed under according to what I've been told. Some tombstones were saved.
Noah and Drucilla's 9 children were:
A) Hetty Ann Sharp Culp b 1866 Giles County, TN d 1958 Athens, Limestone County, AL.B) Amanda D Sharp Holloway Esckstine b 1867 Giles County, TN d 1825 Ardmore, Limestone County, AL.C) Sidney Allen Sharp b 1870 Lincoln County, TN d 1935 Athens, Limestone County, ALD) Henry L Sharp b 1872 Madison County, AL d 1907 Rogersville, Limestone County, ALE) Cynthia S. Sharp b 1874 Alabama or Tennesee or North Carolina (NC on 1880 census) Death unknown.F) Ladocia Sharp b 1876 Tennesee or Alabama or North Carolina (Nc on 1880 census) Death unknown. Possibly married Burnett.G) Delphia Savannah Sharp Smith b 1877 Alabama d 1926 Holcomb, Dunklin County, MissouriH) John Preston Riley Sharp b 1881 Lincoln County, TN d 1856 St. Louis, MissouritI) Joel Wilson Sharp b 1883 Limestone County, AL d 1973 San Angelo, Tom Green County, TX
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