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A DAY WITH MS. ANNIE LEE

Nearly every visit to the farmlands of upper Union County includes a stop at the Fast Stop where I always honor the old ways with a 7 oz. Coke and pack of nabs or peanuts.

Fast Stop is one of those treasured country stores where local farmers and old timers congregate to share daily goings-on. Little did I know that advice offered on a certain less than fast stop would connect me to Annie Lee Traywick, a retiree who spent many years at the Lance plant making the Toastchee crackers I so love. …they really are the unbeatable compliment to a small bottle of Coke!

Annie Lee owned a picturesque farm near the intersection of Hwy 218 and Thanny Helms road where we spent hours talking about family history and plotting trips to old farms and graveyards. She knew her community, of the people, and of their past. With little access to hard records, Annie Lee passed down generations of family stories keeping alive the spirit of life. She was a tour guide of sorts; a caregiver always seeking to maintain memories while working to preserve old family cemeteries now falling to decay.

On one such visit we explored the life of John Robert Thomas, brother to my own ancestor David Thomas. Born in 1816, the son of Ananias Thomas, John married Annis Nance 2 Dec 1846. John’s life record is relatively short, with hints of legal troubles. He purchased land near Rocky River in the vicinity where Annis was raised. John wrote his last will and testament in 1857 and died prior to its probation a year later. Land and court records show that Annis continued to live in the area until or near her death. She’s buried at Oakwood cemetery in Concord near her son Clement Marshall Thomas. John and Annis Thomas also had a son John Calvin who’s buried at Big Lick Baptist not too far from my grandfather’s farm in Stanly County.

Seeking to satisfy my curiosity about his burial and the wanting to locate the lands of John R Thomas, Annie Lee Traywick led me to a Mr. Austin who raised African long horned cows on Pleasant Hill Church road. He knew bits and pieces and told us the homeplace was marked by a punch well on the old dirt road that once led from the fields of Austin’s Big Branch to Coble’s old mill on the river. He also spoke of an old Indian burial ground nearby. We found the punch well covered with briers at a point where two dirt roads converged near a large ravine. Annie and I spent an hour walking the old homesite. The burial ground Mr Austin spoke about was located on a small flat on the far side of the ravine. There were but a few small rounded stones and all were rough with no visible inscriptions. Some may be quick to identify them as old Indian stones, it’s my belief they mark the early generation of settlers.

Annie Lee Traywick had one more person she wanted me to see. Heading back up Pleasant Hill Church road, we turned off to pay a visit to Ms. Emma Austin. Upon arrival we had to wait a bit as Emma was busy on her tractor plowing the large field by her house. At roughly 94 years in age, Ms Emma was full of spirit. She showed us a black spot on her leg where she had recently been bitten by a brown recluse spider. Having been hospitalized with gangrene growing over much of her leg, she refused treatment, came home, and nursed herself back to health using a poultice of sulfur wrapped in bacon.

Ms Emma Austin had lots to tell. As a young child, she lived in the old home now identified only by a metal pipe protruding from the ground. She told of the good times and of hard times. She also knew of the old grave stones once marked with writing! From her testimony, we know Annis Thomas lived in the house when Emma was a baby and that the home place was always known as the Annis Thomas house.

Annie Lee Traywick

It’s been more than ten years since Annie Lee led me through the rudes of Union. She’s now passed and I suspect Ms Emma has too. The backwood where the old place once stood has changed. It now sports several brand new brick homes and an improved roadbed. Today’s land owners likely know little of the past and of the people who once trod the land they now call home. The last few attempts to visit the little graveyard have been futile as I’ve yet been able to find it again. Someday! But hey, one of the homeowners is a THOMAS, so I’m looking forward to the new door that’s opened!

The New Year is upon us and while most are recovering from celebration, this Saturday I’ll be kicking leaves in search of family long lost. It’s my thing.

MY THOMAS FAMILY

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My GGG-Grandfather Ananias Thomas was born in 1779 and lived a long and prosperous life near the banks of Richardson Creek in upper Union County NC. He married a person named Sarah whose maiden escapes record. Both Ananias and his wife outlived most of their children.

Living on the creek when the American Revolution swept through the region, Ananias wrote his will in 1860 and died 16 Feb 1861 at the start of the civil war. His grave stone (above) at the Edmond Davis Cemetery is barely readable today. Ananias’ wife Sarah died in 1867 and her estate papers list all the heirs including my own great grandfather George.

Rather than fill you with more computer generated font, below are images of Ananias’ last will and testament along with his wife Sarah’s estate papers. Take a look, imagine the shaky old hand using a quill pen to sign his last living directive. Read and imagine what kind of man he was. And look through Sarah’s papers and see if you can find your way back to Ananias and Sarah.

I want you to see the past like I do …it’s a puzzle full of mystery, written mysteriously in a language all but gone. Enjoy and may you look forward to a happy and blessed new year!

IF ONLY WE COULD TALK

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David Thomas, son of Benjamin and brother of Ananias was born 1773 and married 1797 to Mary Presley, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Lee Presley. This family moved from Anson County NC to Chester County SC around 1800. Mary died prior to 1830 and David married again to a person also named Mary. Some wrongly believe David’s second wife is the daughter of Thomas Satterwhite while it’s more plausible her maiden name is Brakefield. David died 1845 and his much younger second wife Mary was born ca. 1802 and died prior to the 1880 census.

In the late 1990’s I was guided to speak with a lady in York SC who was known to be most knowledgeable on the family. Forgive me as I can’t remember her name. A very kind soul, she allowed me to copy a framed photograph traditionally believed to be the second wife of David. But for the life of me, it just seemed the person photographed was too young. I’ve recently learned more about the image and of family traits that make me question my early stance.

Using the collodion process, the original photograph of the above was a type of photographic image known as an ambrotype. Unique and unable to be copied as is accomplished with modern film processes, ambrotypes are projected and printed onto glass. Following the introduction of daguerreotypes in the 1840’s and predating tin-types of the 1860’s, ambrotypes such as this can be dated to the late 1840’s through the 1850’s.

Is the picture above that of Mary who is enumerated in the 1850 census as being 48 years old? Is it possible she padded her age a little to seem more respectful in age? Or, could this be a picture of another person that’s been misidentified for the many years?

Family lore holds strongly to the belief that the photo is in fact that of David’s second wife. And to their credit, the ladies in the family hold up well to the advances of time. This is certainly a wonderful photograph and an important record for the descendants of David Thomas of Chester County SC.

RELIGION ON GOURDVINE: PART 2

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Staring across the grassy fields, I can imagine the goings on of early generations of settler. I’ve studied for years and feel in tune with their changing community and of the people who once lived near what is now the Edmond Davis cemetery. And realizing this was my ancestors’ final resting place, I know the story is not complete; there‘s more to be found and more story to be told.

Take a look at Edmond Davis cemetery … zoom in, zoom out and see the fields I see. The southeast corner of the cemetery is the place where my Thomas family is at rest. Edmond Davis and others are at rest under great cedars in the northern portion of the graveyard. And see the white spot midpoint of the west-most fence line? That’s the resting place of Lorenzo Merriman Little, a member of Jesse James’ Gang who was on hand 13 Feb 1866 in Liberty Missouri for the first daylight bank robbery in the United States. More on Edmond Davis cemetery can be found on Julie A. Hampton’ site.

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While putting together the title history for lands around the cemetery, I happened across the following deed (left) dated 1821 in which James Baucom conveys 100 acres along Gourdvine Creek to William Holly. The tract originated as part of a land grant entered 1797 and issued 1811 to Frederick Taylor. Though my next post will delve deeper into the title history of the surrounding area, this one deed opens the possibility that Edmond Davis cemetery was more than a family graveyard. As highlighted in yellow, there must have been a “Meeting House Ford” on the waters of Gourdvine and I can only imagine there was also a meeting house nearby.

This is new and big as it does not relate to any known church histories. Well over 10 years before the founding of Jerusalem Baptist and more than 30 years before the founding of Olive Branch Baptist, we now know another church existed in 1821. It’s not Rocky River Baptist as it’s too far away. Let’s look back at the grant, neighboring lands and later conveyances to see where this all fits in today’s landscape.

In the illustration to the left, the Edmond Davis estate lands and cemetery are identified as a red shaded area. Frederick Taylor’s 1811 grant for 300 acres is lined in blue and adjoins the lands of Richard Lee as is written in the warrant for survey. You’ll also note another tract granted to Jacob Gurley. It’s in that tract where I believe the “Meeting House Ford” once crossed Gourdvine creek. Here’s a short title history of the land originating in the Frederick Taylor grant:

Grant # 5982 to Frederick Taylor, Anson NC, ent. 20 Dec 1797, iss. 18 Dec 1811. Being 300 acres on both sides of Gourdvine Creek.

Deed O-187 Anson NC, 6 Aug 1808, John Jennings Sheriff to Richard Williams for debt owed to Solomon Steagall being the entire 300 acres.
Deed S-274 Anson NC, 26 Jan 1818, Richard Williams to Willis Williams being all of the tract lying west of Gourdvine Creek containing 200 acres. Wit: Isaac Williams, Jacob Little.
T-304 Anson NC, 26 Nov 1819, Isaac Williams to Obediah Curlee being all of the tract on lying on the east side of Gourdvine containing 100 acres. Wit: Isaac Williams, Jacob Little.
T-313 Anson NC, 2 Jan 1821, Obediah Curlee to James Baucom being all of the northern half of the tract above the dashed line containing 216 acres. Wit: Lewis Baucom, Ransom Baucom.
V-415 Anson NC, 24 Sep 1821, James Baucom to William Holly being all of the northern half of the 300 acre tract lying west of Gourdvine containing 116 acres. In this deed the northern most east-west line is identified as being above the “Meeting House Ford.” Wit: C. B. Curlee, William Mullis.

… above the Meeting House Ford. Hmmmm, … as water runs downhill, the ford should cross the creek within the adjoining tract downstream from the land originating in Frederick Taylor’s grant. Entered 1797 and issued 5 Dec 1805, Jacob Gurley received 100 acres adjoining Michael Austin’s lands on both sides of Gourdvine at the mouth of “Buck Branch.” Nobody today knows anything about Buck Branch though a branch does rise just below the cemetery before making its way to Gourdvine below Olive Branch road. Here’s a look at the conveyances of this piece of Jacob Gurley’s land:

L-195 Anson NC, 4 Mar 1805, Jacob Gurley to Isaac Williams Senr, being the 100 acres granted to Jacob Gurley. Wit: Willis Gurley, Isaac Williams.
V-92 Anson NC, 3 Apr 1822, James Baucom to Solomon Mullis, being 25 acres of Jacob Gurley’s 100 acres lying on the west side of Gourdvine. The deed states the land was conveyed from said Gurley to Isaac Williams Senr, then to Obediah Curlee and then to James Baucom. Wit: Obed. Curlee.

Olive Branch road passing over Gourdvine creek

Where was the Meeting House ford located? There’s very little option other than it crossing at the same location as today’s bridge or at least very close nearby. And knowing the location of Meeting House ford in 1821, exactly where was the Meeting House?

It’s my belief that at some point from 1800-1820, a Baptist church was organized and built on the hills above Gourdvine creek. In 1821, at the time James Baucom purchased land from Obediah Curlee, the church and graveyard (now Edmond Davis cemetery) must have already begun to serve numerous families in the community.

As Baptists are social in order, survival of the church was dependent upon the clout and leadership of a few families. Something happened to this dynamic causing change. What could have happened?

Rev. Edmond Davis grave

We’ll never know for sure though the 1830’s and 40’s were hard. Migrations west carried away many and there was also disease and death. It’s important that my own David Thomas’ lands at least adjoined the cemetery and that he and his wife both died in the early 1850’s. Baptist minister and uncle Edmond Davis oversaw both the estate and orphaned children. In 1857, he bought David Thomas’s land that adjoined the cemetery. And then in 1858, Edmond Davis and others provided notification that Olive Branch Baptist church was to be built on Henry Baucom’s nearby lands. See Julie A Hampton’s site.

The church grew strong and Olive Branch as a community was formally incorporated in 1875. Though Olive Branch Baptist church had its own cemetery, the old graveyard by Gourdvine creek continues its service through today. Why has it survived and why did they name the new church Olive Branch? A sign, a branch of peace, there must have been a very real reason. It’s my belief the name was a way of bringing together a community that had been divided by death, migration or social conflict. It’s only a guess; it’s not meant for us to know for sure.

foreground - grave of Ananias Thomas, background -gave of Merriman Little, distant landscape - location of bridge and likely site of Meeting House ford.

foreground – grave of Ananias Thomas, background by fence -grave of Merriman Little, distant low land – location of bridge and likely site of Meeting House ford.

RELIGION ON GOURDVINE: PART 1

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The Edmond L. Davis cemetery is located on a hilltop just east of the bridge where Olive Branch road crosses Gourdvine Creek in Union county NC.

I remember Thanksgiving weekend 1996 and a visit to the Edmond L. Davis cemetery in Union county to photograph family lands I had only recently learned about. It was dreary, cold to the bone, and yet the frequent sounds of gunshot rang out as hunting season was in full swing. My father had passed less than a year prior and here I was alone in a cemetery seeking to lay witness to my GGG grandfather Ananias Thomas’ grave. I found his hand-carved stone which appeared to be grouped in a plot amongst other members of Thomas family. And just behind his grave were two unmarked stones that some have identified as mere foot markers. However, it’s always been my belief the stones mark the resting places of my GG grandparents David Thomas and his wife Alice Newsome Thomas. David is the son of Ananias.

Both David Thomas and his father-in-law Joseph Newsome owned land along Gourdvine creek in the vicinity of present day Edmond L. Davis cemetery. Prior to his death ca. 1843, Joseph Newsome sold some of his land to David Thomas. Per bible record, Joseph’s daughter Alice Thomas died 3 Dec 1852 and Union county probate records indicate David Thomas died prior to 1855.

Lot 1 of the estate of Edmond L. Davis

Following the death of David and Alice Thomas, Edmond Davis was appointed estate administrator . He was also named guardian of the younger children including my namesake ancestor George Thomas. In the Fall Term 1856 of the Court of Equity for Union County, C. M. McCauley ordered the sale of 268 acres. Known as lot 1 of the “land upon which David Thomas lived at the time of his death”, this tract was situated on the south side of Gourdvine Creek. It adjoined David Thomas’s second tract and the lands of Elbert W. Caraway and Edmond Davis. On 30 Dec 1856, Edmond L. Davis purchased the land for $1,325.

Important! Following Edmond Davis’ eventual death on 6 Jan 1896, lot 1 of his own estate takes in the cemetery that now bears his name (see plat above) . The tract matches and therefore can be accurately located using county GIS land records.

Edmond Lilly Davis was a prominent Baptist minister in a region historically dominated by Baptists. His life and services are well documented in E. M. Brook’s 1928 History of Rocky River Baptist Church. Edmond Davis was also a friend and brother in-law to David Thomas as he married Mary Elizabeth Newsome, a sister of David Thomas’ wife Alice.

Note that David Thomas owned 660 acres per the 1852 Union county tax list at a time when Edmond Davis was listed with less. Following the death of David Thomas, the numbers reverse with David’s ownership of course going to zero. From this I’ve always wondered if the cemetery was built on lands that once belonged to David Thomas and/or his father-in-law Joseph Newsome? The following plat locates the entire estate of Edmond Davis. Note the portion highlighted in purple identifies the one lot Edmond Davis purchased from the estate of David Thomas.

Estate of Edmond L Davis

At this point, after nearly 20 years of looking, I still cannot say with absolute certainty that the graveyard in question was first located on David Thomas’ home land. But we know his lands were oh so close as were his father-in-law’s. And knowing there are no graves marking the resting place of David and Alice Thomas, my mind goes back to something Ms. Annie Lee Traywyck once told me: “The cemetery once had many more stones that eventually went the way of cows”. And then there are the two stones behind those of Ananias and his wife Sarah. Stake-like in form and made of a much harder granite, was there ever even clear writing on the stones? Is it just my wishful thinking? And note that Olive Branch Baptist Church just up the road was formed by Edmond Davis and others in 1858 just as the estate of David Thomas was being settled?

Before Olive Branch Baptist, where did the folks along Gourdvine creek go to congregate and seek spiritual comfort? Where there’s more than two gathered, there would have been church. Where was it?

A TIME FOR HEALING

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The late 1800’s was an exciting time when spirit and our crude understandings of nature and science coalesced giving birth to today’s modern medicine. Tobacco smoke was blown into sore ears, stones were cast off after being rubbed against a wart, and wolf bane tea was drunk by many. Ritualistic incantations were prayerfully administered while practitioners received prior warning to never reveal the secretive healing words. Beyond the naturopathic qualities of herbs, minerals and other worldly elements, it’s hard to imagine the medicinal benefit found in fanciful words and physical ceremony. But somehow such things healed people ….or so we’ve heard.

At aged 13, in 1891, young Flora Jenkins penned the above healing recitations. She likely received and protected the cookbook of words in a same manner as had been received by many others before. Was this something learned in school, was it part of a strict religious belief, or did it reflect a childhood fad passed on in some rite of passage?

Enjoy the reading and know that Flora was born 10 Jan 1877 to Julius and Mary Pless Jenkins. Mary was the daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Furr Pless and a sister to my great grandmother Julia Pless. On 19 Jan 1892, Flora married Michael James Love, the son of Michael G. and Phoebe Love. They moved to McKinney Texas in hopes of growing cotton and big yellow onions before returning to Stanly County where they lived out their later years. Michael J. and Flora Love are buried at Love’s Grove UMC.

A HOME FOR MOSES

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Realizing his life was coming to an end, Cristopher Osborne penned his last will and testament in Mecklenburg, now Cabarrus County NC on the thirteenth day of December in the year 1788. He acknowledges an unborn child and directs son Christopher [H.] Osborne to provide one-hundred pounds (or an equal amount in land) when the child reaches age of 21. Born 1785, the younger Christopher married Catherine “Caty” Furr, the daughter of Paul and Mary Stutts Furr. Paul died in 1837 and Mary followed in 1843. Mary formally disowned Caty per the 7th item in her will:

“I ordain and order that Elizabeth Furr and Caty Osborne, wife of Christopher Osborne, do not receive and are not entitled to one cent of my Estate.”

What happened and why was Caty willed out? Apparently she was part of a suit against her father’s estate eventually settled in the North Carolina Supreme Court. At question was the rights of her deceased brother’s son Noah: https://casetext.com/case/osborne-v-widenhouse There are no known records linking to the unborn Osborne child and we know Christopher and Catherine eventually removed to Dallas Alabama.

In Stanly County, next door to Cabarrus, there lived a man named Moses Osborne. His ancestry has long been unknown though his recorded birth in 1785 makes him the suspect child.. Christopher Osborne Sr was likely a mover amongst the Baptists and what better name would he seek for his unborn son! It’s my belief that a misfiled deed matched to lands of early settlers in the area around Love’s Chapel UMC has shed new light on the matter.

In 1804 and 1806, Hillakiah Weatherford conveyed two adjoining tracts of land to William Morrison of Mecklenburg. Recorded on book and pages 5-129 & 30, Cabarrus County, the land was located not in Cabarrus, but in then Montgomery County on the east prong of Rockhole Creek (see two green tracts below). Reading through the deeds, one of the tracts adjoined the lands of “Christopher Osborne.” Also note that the purchaser William Morrison eventually ended up in the same county in Alabama as young Christopher Osborne.

Deed 5-129, Cabarrus NC

Deed 5-130, Cabarrus NC

Dated 1 Sep 1834, Thomas Craton conveyed a 684 acre tract of land (see large yellow tract below) to my ancestor, Jonah Love. Also situated on Rockhole Creek, Jonah and wife Mary later donated land for Love’s Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849. Note that Jonah’s big tract abutted the lands originally purchased by Hillikiah Weatherford.

On 5 Jun 1838, Michael and Sally M (Pope) Garmon sold a small tract (14-42 Montgomery NC) to John Little. The tract shown below in blue nests nicely with the southern end of Jonah’s larger holding just below the church cemetery. The land also joined the Whortleberry pond and “lands of Moses Osborne).

There are many land records for Moses Osborne though one in particular links well with the above. Dated 17 Feb 1853, Stanly County Sheriff Marvel Kirk sold a large tract (3-287, Stanly NC) to Andrew Honeycutt. Moses Osborne lost the land through court action. Note that in the 1804 transaction from Hillikiah Weatherford to William Morrison, the deed points to lands then owned by Christopher Osborne that were eventually owned and sold due to a case arising against Moses Osborne. This could be coincidental though there’s very little likelihood that it’s so. This is a rare find and in adding to the story, note that Paul Furr owned lands to the north of Jonah Love. Paul and Levi Furr owned two land grants (2774 and 2775, Stanly NC) shaded orange to the right side of Jonah’s land.

It’s with great confidence that I believe Moses Osborne should be added to the family tree of Christopher Osborne who died in 1789 Mecklenburg County NC

DECIPHERING A STORE LEDGER

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“When I was a little bitty boy, just up off a floor, We used to go down to Grandma’s house every month end or so. We’d have chicken pie and country ham, homemade butter on the bread. But the best darn thing about Grandma’s house was her great big feather bed. It was nine feet wide, and six feet high, soft as a downy chick It was made from the feathers of forty-eleven geese, took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick.” – John Denver

John Denver’s song “Grandma’s Feather Bed’ echoes a way of life dear to my mother’s memories of childhood. At a time before the modern conveniences of central heating and air conditioning, on cold winter nights, mom would warm by the fireplace before going to bed. Running as fast as her little legs would carry her, she’d jump up onto a feather tick piled high with soft warm quilts.

Not knowing the origin of the word “tick,” I’ve always imagined a mattress packed so full of soft down and feathers that it looked rather like a plump, well-fed deer tick. This viewpoint changed after reading the following store ledger written long ago.

In 1793, almost ten years before moving from North Carolina to Kershaw South Carolina, Daniel Little (Junior) made the above purchases at John Melchior’s store in Cabarrus County. Such ledgers provide a wealth of information, offering clues and rare glimpses into the daily lives of our early ancestors. An account in this store ledger documents Daniel’s numerous puchases of Osnaburg along with 20 yards of ‘Ticklenburg’. Curious as to the Germanic sounding names of these items, I searched online to find out more; I am amazed at what I learned.

Located in the south of Lower Saxony, German was Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, a state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1225 to 1803. The fabric purchased by Daniel Little at Melchior’s store is rooted in this region, in the town of Osnaburg, known historically for quality woven cloth and fabrics. Originally made from flax yarns, the creamy white Osnaburg cloth has also been made from tow or jute yarns. A coarse imitation of the German fabric began to be woven in Scotland in the 1730’s and quickly became the most important variety in east-central Scotland. For bedding and clothing garments, Osnaburg was used in revolutionary war uniforms and was the fabric most often used to clothe slaves prior to the Civil War. It’s still commonly used today for window curtains.

Happy to have found the origin of the Osnaburg fabric, I was then surprised to find that less than 15 miles to the southwest of the town of Osnabruck, was a district and town called Tecklenburg which was well-known for making another kind of cloth. Named after the town, Tecklenburg is a course blue and white striped industrial-type material often used for britches and bedding. Today we know it as “Ticking,” the blue and white fabric we’ve all seen made into mattress and pillow coverings. So now we know that it is this place in Germany where the naming of our fabled feather tick is rooted!

In another 1793 purchase by Christoph Lylerle (above), stockings, buttons, and Durant were purchased. Durant is of Norman origin being derived from an Old French word meaning “enduring.” I’ve not found the exact connection though the name of this cloth is likely attributable to John Durant, a wealthy wool merchant who died in 1297 Bedfordshire, England. The Columbia Cyclopedia identifies Durance as “A term applied to the leathrn dresses worn by the lower orders; a stout woolen stuff formerly made in imitation of buff leather, and used for garments, also called Durant and Tammy.”

And worth sharing in this post, I stumbled across the chance to learn from another word found in Christoph Lyerle’s acount. In the last entry, dated November 15, 1793, Christoph’s account was paid off by Richard Honnicut. At first reading this as “Green, a Widdow,” I thought maybe I had stumbled upon some genealogical clue. Excited, and in discussing this with a friend who just happened to be a retired NC State animal husbandry professor, I quickly learned that a “Wedder” is a castrated annd fattened sheep! Aparrently Richard paid for the bill with a fat sheep!

Note that one other purchase by Christoph Lylerle was paid for using counterfit money. This was a major issue after the Revolutionary War and was one met with harsh penalties ..more later.

Have fun reading those old docs!

THE WALK OF AARON MOSES AND MARY MAGDALENE

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A slave with no record illuminating his walk on this earth, he was likely living under the hand of James Love when the census was taken in 1790 Stokes County NC. As the century came to an end, his master’s life began to fail and we are first introduced to the slave named Aaron.

In 1799, on the day after Christmas, James Love acknowledged his earthly mortality. Writing his last will and testament, not only was James firstly concerned with two slaves, he was also interested in the security of their prized colt:

Who were these seven men and why were Aaron and Megg willed to them in such manner and form? As it turns out, the men were trustees of a church founded by James Love. Just two years prior to the writing of the will, on 13 Dec 1797, Thomas Tucker and wife Ann deeded one acre of land (3-96, Stokes NC) to James Love Senr., Edmund Jean, William Jean, James Love Junr., Edward Cooley, Robert Fulton, and Archibald Campbell. As trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, these seven men had received the gift deed for one acre situated on Rocky Branch of Muddy Creek for the purpose of erecting a meetinghouse. Two years after the deeding of land, Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury wrote of his visit to Love’s Methodist church:

1799 on Monday, October 7. We rode through Stokes County, and attended meeting at Love’s church, which has glass windows, and a yard fenced in.

How deep was James Love’s conviction? Reaching the end of his life, was he preparing a home for his body after death? Was he building legacy and was all this happening because he had finally accepted his earthy mortality? Were these the actions of a man who was making up for lost time or were these the continuation of the good life he had always lived? These are important questions as they get to the heart of James Love, master of Aaron and Megg.

At this point I could write stereotypically about the wrongdoings of slavery and spend time putting meat to a story of festering hurt levied long ago. But in this case, I’m not sure of the depth of hurt; I’m really intrigued with Aaron’s walk to freedom. Were James Love’s orders in his last will and testament honored and how does this story play out?

Probated January 1800, James Love didn’t live long after penning his will. The story of Aaron remains quiet until three years later a Moravian Minister wrote the following in his journal:

15 February 1803. It was noted that the Negro Aaron Moses, who has been working in the tanyard, must be sent away, as certain persons who lay claim to him are seeking to take him by force.

Apparently while under the hands of the seven leaders of the Methodist church, was this an actionable order? Who was coming to lay claim on Aaron and where did they end up sending him? History tells us that the tanyard in the Moravian town of Salem was an early hub of industry for early African Americans, both slaves and free. Did Aaron live and work in Old Salem, or are there other possibilities? Note that William Jean, one of the devisees of James Love’s will is known to have preached at Doubs Methodist church in present day Pfafftown. The site of one of the earliest Methodist Camp Meetings, founder and German immigrant John Doub was also by trade, a tanner.

Later in 1803, the life of James Love and the walk of his slave Aaron were greatly illuminated through a series of emancipation petitions filed with the North Carolina General Assembly. The first petition depicts James Love Senr as an aged, but kind and thoughtful person. It was his wish that the two slaves Aaron and Megg be freed to become known as Aaron Moses and wife Mary Madeline Moses. We also learn that Aaron lived in “Salem” indicating he likely worked at the Moravian tannery. And based on timing, I’m of the belief that Aaron Moses served prominently as a guiding force for other slaves. Note that the petition included separate signature lists for the seven devisees (minus Edward Jean as he had since died), relatives and descendants of James Love deceased, and friends and neighbors. From the list of family, there are few names that I cannot connect to James Love. The devisees of James Love’s will indicated it was his will that they find freedom for the two slaves. Being late in the life of James Love, there had likely been no time for him to grant freedom properly through legal emancipation. And a second petition by citizens was signed entirely in German script. Note a leislative bill has not been found showing that the petition for emancipation was acted upon.

Petition 1, Page 1

Petition 1, Page 2

Petition 1, Page 3

Petition 2

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These records are wonderful and really help to tell the story of both my ancestor and of those who were held by him in slavery. But as you might surmise, there’s no further record in North Carolina to advance the walk of Aaron Moses and is wife Mary Magdalene. What happened to them? I can imagine what wonderful Christian souls they must have been. And as for me, this has been a powerful spiritual experience tracing the paths of the couple named Aaron Moses and Mary Magdalene. As hard as I tried, the story came to an end with the filing of a petition. All was quiet until much later I received an Email from a very distant cousin whose name has sadly been lost. Please gather your thoughts as I move to close this post.

Note that James Love Senior’s son John Love died ca 1789. John had sons John Crook Love and James. In the early 1800’s, the younger James and children of deceased John Crook Love moved to Indiana where Love’s Chapel was founded in the town of Loogootee IN. I’m not going to take the time in this post to outline who lived nearby and are buried at the ancient cemetery. To be honest, I’m not sure as it’s a long way to research from my home in Raleigh NC. Anyhow, family in Indiana did not remain there. At some point they followed migrations west with some settling in the state of Kansas. It’s through Email from a member of this family that the story of Aaron Moses is possibly reopened.

Born 1850 in Indiana, Zetto Barnes Love died in Reese Kansas where he was patriarch of a large family (see picture above.) As was conveyed to me, a relative (possibly a sister or aunt) made and provided a written account of the trip from North Carolina to Indiana. Not certain whether it is original or a second hand outline, the account below identifies the starting point as east of the Appalachians. Naming Zetto Barnes Love, the account must also be rooted in his family. To my amazement, a note in the upper right corner indicates the family moved from North Carolina in order to free a slave. Could this be Aaron and his wife Mary Magdalene Moses? The early 1800’s were a time where moral debates around the keeping of slaves split many families.

Seeking the promise of a better life in Indiana, Quakers and others holding anti-slavery beliefs migrated in mass from the areas of Stokes and Guilford counties NC. It’s possible that Aaron Moses and the family of James Love Senior made this trip north. I’ve looked hard and can’t find any further trace of Aaron Moses. He may have remained here in North Carolina. He may be buried in the hallowed grounds of Loogootee Indiana. Though we’ll never know for sure; we do know he made his mark on life.

TURNING THE PAGE AND A NEW TOY

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Land title history along Gourdvine Creek is a mess but it’s at the heart of where I’d like to center a new map based study. I also hope more finds made this past week will close the story of Moses K. Hyams and his life along the Rocky River. It’s been a busy week.

I’ve hinted of my ancestor’s Uncle William Barnes’ legal troubles involving land and how they may connect with the story of Moses K. Hyams. Wiliam began selling off his lands along Gorudvine Creek in 1822:

Anson U-477, 22 Feb 1822, William Barnes to Polly Jenkins. Being 118 acres on the east side of Gourdvine Creek ajoining his own land. Wit: Solomon Mullis, Jacob Little.
ANSON V-153, 20 — 1825, Absolum Myers Shff. To Thomas Griffin. Being the following 3 tracts sold arising from an execution issuing from the Court of Please and Quarter Sessions for the sum of $328 recovered by William Mullis against William Barnes, John Rowe and others.
Anson V-296, 19 Jan 1826, William Barnes to Solomon Mullis. Land on the southwest side of Gourdvine joining Griffin lands.
Anson W-24, 28 Mar 1827, William Barnes to Ransom Baucom. Being 50 acres on Gourdvine adjoining Barnett lands. Wit: Daniel Smith.
Anson W-322, 12 Jul 1827, Absolum Myers Shff. to Robert Strange of Cumberland County. Being the 3 tracts sold arising from an execution issuing from the Court of Please and Quarter Sessions for the sum of $424 recovered by the Gove against John Rushing, Paul Rushing and William Barnes.
Anson Z-129, 24 Dec 1831, William Barnes to Berry Austin. Being 300 acres on Gourdvine adjoining Hyams lands.

Robert Strange

There’s likely issues with the above, though I’ve not had the time to confirm through platting. The lands sold by the Sheriff show that William may have been involved in a failed business. Gold mining? And of particular interest, in 1827, William’s lands were sold to Robert Strange, president of the Bank of Cape Fear. Strange was also a Senator and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina.

On 29 May 1851, Daniel M. Fesperman was issued a grant for 100 acres along the east side of Gourdvine Creek. The survey clearly takes in the 12 acres issued in the 1820’s to Moses K. Hyams. This land adjoined Ananias Thomas and Josiah Austin. A search of D. M. Fesperman netted the following article published 23 May 1911 in the Monroe Journal:

Affidavit by a Famous Person

Judah P. Benjamin

In the office of the clerk of the court of this county is a deposition made and signed in the yer 1855, by the famous Judah. P. Benjamin, who afterwards won so much renown as a member of the cabinet of President Jefferson of the Southern Confederacy. Benjamin was a Jew and thought by many writers and historians to have been the most able man in Mr. Davis’ cabinet. After the wr he settled in England and won high place in official circles, having become a member of the Queen’s privy council. The affidavit on file here was given on the date stated in a land suit brought in this county against D. M. Fesperman by the heirs of Moses K. Hyams, a well-known Jew who did business in the first part of the century where Olive Branch now is. He went to Louisiana and died having his brothers and sisters as his heirs. One of these sisters is the wife of Abram C. Labatte, who did business at the Tindle place, where the first county court was held. LaBatte had also gone to Louisiana. Hyams died in Louisiana, while still owning land in this county. D. M. Fesperman had acquired some shares in the land and after the death of Hyams, had come into possession of it. The Heirs of Hyams brought suit to recover it and it was necessary to establish kinship of these with Hyams. Judah P. Benjamin’s testimony was to the effect that he had known the parties to the suit and their kinship with the deceased man.

It is an interesting old document and Squire Simpson was as happy over its discovery as a boy with a new toy.

Judah P. Benjamin was raised in Wilmington; his mother’s maiden name is Levy. There’s a possibility Benjamin is related to Moses K. Hyams through their maternal grandmothers. And who was Abraham Labatte mentioned in the deposition? The following is abbreviated from Abraham’s obituary found on Find-a-Grave:

DEATH ENDS A MOST INTERESTING CAREER
Second Oldest Mason in America, Last Original Member of the Firemen’s Charitable Association, a Leader in Israel, He Took the First Steamship to Galveston.

Abraham Cohen Labatt, one of the oldest citizens of Texas. Born in Charleston, S. C. on 2 July 1802, he went to North Carolina as a young man. He married Caroline Hyams of Charleston in 1825, and in 1830 he removed to New Orleans. He remained there til 1849, when he went to California. After the war he came to Texas and settled, first in Waco. There he lived till 1879, when his wife died, and he came to Galveston.

In 1836 he brought the steamship Columbia to Galveston, which was the first steam vessel to enter this port. There was no pilots here then, and a man had to be sent to Houston by rowing up Buffalo Bayou to notify the people that the Columbia had arrived here. Gen. H. B. Bee was a passenger on that occasion.
Mr. Labatt was intimately acquainted with all the old Texans, and entertained Crockett and Sam Houston at his home many times. Mr. Labatt was made a Mason in May, 1823, at Cheraw, S. C. He was postmaster of David Crockett Lodge, San Francisco, and was the second oldest Mason in the United States.

Though there’s likely more to this that remains unsolved and of interest, it’s time to turn the page. For those interested in Jewish history for the area of Union County NC, take a look at a follow-up article written on 19 Sep 1911 in the Monroe Journal. It outlines the family of Vangal Simons, the Moses family, the Labatt’s and Moses Hyams.

They Lived Along a Rocky River

Discoveries made while searching family who lived in the southern piedmont of North Carolina

Category Archives: Uncategorized

A DAY WITH MS. ANNIE LEE

MY THOMAS FAMILY

IF ONLY WE COULD TALK

RELIGION ON GOURDVINE: PART 2

RELIGION ON GOURDVINE: PART 1

A TIME FOR HEALING

A HOME FOR MOSES

DECIPHERING A STORE LEDGER

THE WALK OF AARON MOSES AND MARY MAGDALENE

TURNING THE PAGE AND A NEW TOY