Originally posted by Mary Thompson Saban from a photocopy of a transcription by Lynn Kappleman

The Wolf River United Baptist Church was organized in Overton County on 5 May, 1821. There were twenty eight charter members:

William Brown

Caty Gabbard

David Gabbard

William Tompkins

Stephen Sewell

Peggy Sewell

Nancy Pierce

Sarah Clevenger

Gilley Guyn

Nancy Crouch

Mary Tompkins

Viny Cole

Mildred Rabourn

Polly Jones

Elizabeth Tompkins

Max Millan Maybery

Thomas Tompkins

Rebecca Mayberry

Ann Sewell

Arthur Pierce

Reuben Clevanger

Samuel Cole

Isaac Crouch (sp?)

Joseph Tompkins

William Sewell

Thomas Rabourn

Richard Rabourn

Elizabeth Cowan

Isaac Denton was moderator for the day, and Joseph Tompkins was elected Clerk.

Isaac Denton was born in North Carolina. He came to Tennessee in 1__2 [illegible]. He moved to Kentucky in 1798 and settled in the part of Cumberland County that became Clinton County in 1835. On Apr (?) 1, 1801, he constituted the Stockton Valley Church after which the Association was later named. The Stockton Valley Church was later changed from Stockton’s Valley to the name of Clear Fork Church.

Source: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~sabthomp/TNWolf1821.htm (via the Internet Archive)

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Notes on Some Members

Last updated 2004 by Mary Saban

BROWN, William

1. Possibly in the family of Benjamin Brown. Benjamin’s son William went to Cumberland County KY about the same time as Samuel Cole and Mary Brown Cole – 1807. And he was still there in 1820 – See Cumberland County KY Census – Selected Names. This William Brown was born 1770s or 1780s. Perhaps he came back to TN. Perhaps not.

CLAVENGER, Reuben, Sarah

1. Sarah was the daughter of Braxton Mayberry of VA.

2. Reuben Clavenger, born 1775 in VA, son of George Clavenger (b 1755 in Monmouth NJ) and Sarah Pitman.

Either they were in Paoli Cumberland County KY in 1820 – See Cumberland County KY Census – Selected Names.

3 0 0 0 1 0

2 0 1 0 0

or they were in Overton County TN in 1820:

3 0 0 0 0 1

0 2 0 1 0

COLE, Samuel, Viny

1. This has been believed to be Samuel Cole and daughter in law Viny Tompkins Cole, wife of Sampson Cole. If it is Samuel, he was born 1776 in VA.

In the original page, Mary Saban wrote “See Samuel Cole and Mary Brown” and provided a link to a page that is only available via the Internet Archive. Click here to visit that Samuel Cole and Mary Brown page.

2. However, I believe it is probably Sampson Cole and wife Viny Tompkins Cole. If it is Sampson, he was born 1801 in Tennessee, son of Samuel Cole and Mary Brown.

1820 US CENSUS, Paoli, Cumberland County, KY page 47
COLE, Samuel

2 3 0 2 1 0
1 0 — 1 1 0

or

1820 Overton County, TN

COLE, Samuel

2 3 0 1 1 0

1 1 1 1 0

COWAN, Elizabeth

There is a James Cowan in the 1820 Overton County TN Census:

1 0 0 0 0 1

0 0 0 1 0

In 1820 Paoli Cumberland County KY, there are four Cowen families – David, John, Samuel and Andrew.

CROUCH, Isaac, Nancy

1. Isaac Crouch was the son of James Crouch and Agnes Denton. He was born in 1796.

Agnes Denton was a sister of Rev. Isaac Denton who married a Martha Crouch, relationship to Isaac Crouch not known.

2. Nancy would be Nancy Cargill, wife of Isaac Crouch. Possibly born about 1796 in NC and daughter of James Cargile

1820 Overton County Census:

Isaac Crouch

1 1 0 1 0 0

1 0 0 1 0

GABBARD, Caty, David

1. David Gabbard was the son of Michael Gabbard and Elizabeth Brown. He was born 1793 in VA. Name has been recorded as Gabbert as well. Michael Gabbard was in Paoli Cumberland County KY in 1820

Some believe that Elizabeth Brown was a daughter of Benjamin Brown and Susan Londerman.

2. Caty would be Catherine Giles, wife of David Gabbard. No other information on her.

Went on to Vermilion County IL by 1830:

GABBARD, David

2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

It is probably him in Scott County IA in 1840 and 1850

GUYN, Gilley

I believe the name actually is Jean? Gilley, as found in Cumberland County KY Census – Selected Names.

MAYBERY, MaxMillan, Rebecca

1. Maxemillian Mayberry was the son of Braxton Mayberry. He was born in 1793 in VA.

2. Rebecca was probably the wife of Maxemillian, last name not known.

Maxemillian moved to Macoupin County IL by 1830, 1840 was in Barry County MO, 1850 was in Taney County MO, 1860 was in Benton County AR – died between 1860 and 1870 in KS. See Don Collins reference to Maxemillian Mayberry located on his Maybury Family Homepage.

[Note: The Maximillian Mabry Civil War Letters from Don Collins’ site are below.]

PIERCE, Arthur, Nancy

1. Nancy Tompkins was the daughter of William Tompkins. She was born 1800 probably in TN. She died July 4, 1824.

2. Arthur Pierce, supposedly born about 1774 in NC, son of possibly Hardy. His name may have been William Arthur Pierce. Supposedly he married ; 1) Mary Fitzgerald, abt 1796; 2) Nancy Tompkins 21 Aug 1817; 3)Mary Ann Marbrey, abt 1826. (Could this be Mayberry?) and 4) Rebecca Myers, m abt 1836. Arthur died 1854. (Information on Rebecca Meyers from Rex Bertram)

1820 US CENSUS, Paoli, Cumberland County KY page 47/152 (next door to Samuel Cole and very near William Tomkins).

PIERCE, Arthur

0 0 0 1 0 0

2 0 1 0 0

RABOURN, Thomas, Mildred, Richard

1. Probably Thomas Silvanus Rayborn, born in NC in 1786, son of Silvanus Rayborn. The spelling of the last name varies widely.

2. Mildred is probably the wife of Thomas Silvanus Raibourn. Her name was probably Mildred Thompson, born 1787 in VA and probably the daughter of James Thompson and Sallie Renfro

3. Probably Richard Rayborn, born 1799 in NC, son of Silvanus Rayborn. Married Ann Brown.

1820 US CENSUS, Overton Co TN

Thos Raeburn

2 1 0 0 1 0

2 1 0 1 0

Sylvanus Rabourn

0 0 2 3 1 0

1 1 0 1 0

John Raeburn

1 0 1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0

SEWELL, Stephen, Ann, Peggy, William

1. Stephen Sewell, born 1783 in Wilkes County NC, son of Joseph Sewell and Mary Gardner Tompkins.

2. Ann is probably Anne Brown Sewell, wife of Stephen Sewell. Born 1790 in NC, and believed to be the daughter of Benjamin Brown and Susan Londerman (it is believed that this is the same Benjamin Brown who married Susan Cooper. Same wife?)

3. William Sewell is possibly the son of Joseph Sewell and Mary Gardner Tompkins, born 1797 in Carter County TN. Supposed to have married a Susan Brown.

4. Peggy Sewell – no information.

1820 Overton County TN Census:

Stephen Sewell

4 0 0 0 1 0

1 2 0 1 0

Joseph Sewell (probably brother of Stephen)

0 1 2 2 0 0

0 0 1 1 1

Note: Stephen remained in Overton County. Was there in 1850.

TOMPKINS, Elizabeth, Thomas, William, Joseph, Mary

1. William Tompkins – believed to be the one born in 1772. However, this could be William Tompkins, born 1795, son of Joseph Tompkins and Mary ‘Polly’ Jenkins. He married Elizabeth Morley in June 1820. See William Tompkins 1772 for more information on him.

2. Elizabeth – believed to be Elizabeth Owens Tompkins, wife of William Tompkins. Also, see note on above William.

3. Thomas Tompkins – believed to be son of William and Elizabeth Tompkins, born 1801.

4. Joseph Tompkins – believed to be born about 1775 and married Mary ‘Polly’ Jenkins. Believed to be son of James Tompkins and Elizabeth Jackson.

5. Mary Tompkins – believed to be Mary ‘Polly’ Jenkins, wife of Joseph Tompkins above. she was born 1775, daughter of Rowland and Jane Jenkins.

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Civil War Letters of The Maximillian Mabry family 

Maximillian⁵ Mabry, son of Revolutionary soldier, Braxton⁴ Mabry (Joel3, Hinchia2, Francis1), was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia about 1794. Shortly after 1810 Braxton Mabry moved his family to Overton County, Tennessee and later to Cumberland County, Kentucky. By 1830 they were all in Macoupin County, Illinois. One of Braxton’s sons, Robert Smith Mabry remained in Illinois but, about 1833, Braxton with sons, James, Joel, and Maximillian, moved to Greene (now Taney) County, Missouri where Braxton died after 1840.

Shortly before the beginning of the Civil War Maximillian moved a short distance to Benton County, Arkansas, where on March 6-8, 1862 he witnessed the Battle of Pea Ridge, the first major Union victory west of the Mississippi. 1349 Union and 4600 Confederate soldiers were killed at Pea Ridge. Sixteen days later Maximillian, with two sons, a daughter and son-in-law, left Arkansas on a circuitous thousand mile journey that would take some of them well over a year to complete. That journey ended in Franklin County, Kansas, less than 200 miles away from where it started.

We are grateful to J. D. McKee of Fresno, California, a great, great, great granddaughter of Maximillian Mabry, for sharing the following letters, all written between 1864 and 1869. They reveal the personal tragedy experienced by so many families during and as a result of the Civil War. We have maintained the spelling of the original letters, adding only a few interpretive comments and a minimum of badly needed punctuation.

The first letter was written in September 1864 by William T. Lewis, the husband of Maximillian’s daughter Jane. It was written to Jane’s brother Reubin Mabry and his wife, Polly.

State of Arkansas Washington County
September the 5th 1864

Dear brother and sister – I one time more take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you to inform you that we are still in the land of the living and that threw the grace and goodness of god we are all in reasonable health and I hope these lines may find you all injoying the same portion of gods blessings of health and also of life for I will inform you that we are not injoying life hhere nor we haven’t for some time owing to the condition of the country is in. I have still thought all the time that I could still live here until lately I have come to the conclution that this country will finally be destroyed and the people will all have to leave and go some whare of ______ or starve to death and I want you to write to me Reubin and let me know how times is where you are and whether I can get something to live on there or not for I am bound to move from here and I want to here from you before I start. write in haste. we heard where you was some months ago one of the Jones boys told us where you was and I wrote a letter to you and have got no answer yet and William Hembree or Eemry told me that he staid all night with you when he was up there so I want you to write and let me know all about the times in every respect live me know whether you can live without being scard and in dread and fear of being kild robed or burnt up for that is my condition here an now Reubin. If you think that I can live there where you are I want you to make some preparations for me that is try to procure a house and land to tend and also procure corn and wheat for bread and I want to bring what cattle I have got and I will want something to winter them on if you can save anything that will do fodder – corn oats, hay or straw. I have 4 cows and calves and I exepect to bring two yoke of stears I have got one good yoke now and I calculate to get another yoke and now anything that will do to feed cattle on be sure to save it for if life lasts I will be there if the trains still passes from Fayettvill to spring tho I may not attempt to start til the leaves falls the trains is so badly lines _whacked it is vary dangerous to go there now and I can’t tel you but little about the times here in this letter – I will say no more about it. Jane Lewis your sister der brother I wish to inform you that I have not forgot the many happy hours that we have passt away in conversation upon religious subjects when we was all together at our fathers house injoying life in the world and the hope of eternal life in the world to come but o dear brother this can never be again in this world for we received a letter from Joseph Mabry stateing that James and Nancy Potter was both dead and gone to try the realitys of another world but o dear brother I still hope and pray god the father of all righteousness that we may all meet again in farer worlds on high whare wars and confution will be no more and the wicked will ____ to trouble Joseph Mabry was at Rolla in Mo and he stated that the old man (Maximillian) was some whare in Kansas but he knew not whare about direct your letters to Fayettevill so I will ad no more but remain your affectionate Brother and sister til death.

William Lewis —- to —- Reubin Mabry
Jane Lewis ————— Polly Mabry

A few weeks after the above letter was written, a neighbor by the name of Matthews became enraged because William Lewis’ son, Amos, had recently enlisted in the Union Army. Matthews came to the Lewis home where he found William Lewis holding his baby daughter, Jerrita. Matthews demanded that Lewis put down the baby, then shot and killed him in front of his family.

One of the Lewis granddaughters later wrote that Jane Mabry Lewis had survived the Civil War but that the family had been robbed and all their livestock stolen. All Jane had left was, “an oxcart and ten children to raise”. They had very little food and survived on cornmeal. Whenever Jane heard anyone approaching on horseback she would quickly lift up a loose floorboard and hide the cornmeal under the floor, replace the board, put down a pallet on the floor and place the baby on it.

The second letter was written in July 1866 by Maximillian Mabry to his widowed daughter, Jane Lewis. The letter describes his leaving Arkansas in 1862 and his long journey to Kansas, a non-slave state which had been admitted to the Union the previous year. 

The 26th July 1866
Franklin County Kansas

Dear Daughter I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all enjoying reasonable portion of health at present except to my leg and foot which is mutch better tho not well yet. I recieved your letter dated the 8th on the 19th which give us mutch satisfaction to hear from you and to hear you had so mutch of a start left to live on as you have for I did not suppose you could have kept the clothing on your backs and lived in Ark. let alone any stock of any kind for the rebels took the last horse I had. I will say to you that I left for other parts swoon after that ever memorable battle of Pea Ridge. We left Ark on the 24 march 62. Myself, James, and Joseph and potter (David Potter, husband of Maximillian’s daughter, Nancy) all together we went on near Rolla where James and Joseph stopt. I and David kept on we crossed the river at St. Louis thence up threw Illinois to Keokuk into Iowa, thence threw to Nebraska on the 8th of August we stopt and wintered thence to Kansas in spring of 63. Potter and Nancy staid with me all the route to donaphan Co. Kansas 18 miles wst of st. Joseph where Nancy died July 11th 63. David is keeping house with the children best he can he has give them rite smart schooling and clothed and fed them best he could. he just went over the river into Mo. last fall he has 4 with him now and 1 ded in ark. jim and jo both enlisted in the U.S. Army. joseph got his discharge from the service he is now in Iowa Burlington. Demoinse County Iowa is his post office address. He has James children with him he is where he can see the boats run the Mississippi River. I got a letter from him dated july first they were all well then James M. Richmand and Maximillian are both ded. Matison in the fall of 61 and maxmillian enlisted in the U.S. service and died in the fall of 62 at kansas city. Patcy is here now they are all well at present her son james sends his best respects to you all. I would like to know what has become of brother James Mabry and hill and becky and now Amos pevehouse my best respects to you as a returned soldier from the U.S. Service to the more peaceful shades of private life I am in hopes ____ Mariecede will give all the children howdy for me and so I come to a close so I remain your affectionate father until death.

MM Mabry and family
to Jane Lewis and family

The third letter was written by Maximillian’s son, Robert B. Mabry, to his sister, Jane Mabry Lewis, in June 1869. 

State of Cansas
June 20th 1869

Dear sister I seat myself this rainy sabath to drop you a few lines which will inform you that we are all well at present hoping they may find you all well. I received your kind letter of March the 6 wich gives us much satisfaction to hear from you and to read that you were all well. I rented about 25 acres of land and has a verry fare prospect for a corn crop so fare the grass hopers is perty thick and have don some damage. The(y) lay their eggs in the ground in the fall and hatch out in the spring and stay til they get big enough to fly off then come back in the fall. Thes are not our common native hoppers I have not heard from any of the connection since I wrote you I dont know what has become of Potter. You will still direct your letters to walnut grove Postoffice. James Richmond maried last fall they are in Iowa. I saw uncle Isaac Sidwel in iowa and heard him preach. He is what we call the soft shell baptist. I still hold my letter granted by turkey creek church yet. So nothing more at present so farwell for the present.

R. B. Mabry
Winney Mabry to Jane Lewis and family

Source: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mabry/cw letters2.html (via the Internet Archive)

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1810 Census of Cumberland County for Selected Names

Abstracted by Mary Saban

Surnames include Brown, Campbell, Clavanger, Cole, Denton, Gabbard, Gilly, Jewell/Sewell, Mayberry, Owens, Pierce, Tomkins, Whitaker, Woolsey

Notes from Ms. Saban’s research are included.

Click here for the extract, available from the Internet Archive.