GENEALOGICAL ABSTRACTS FROM REPORTED DEATHS THE
SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE 1838-1846
By Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 2003
ADDITIONAL GLEANINGS FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
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August 3, 1839
Mrs. ELIZABETH A. DAVIE, formerly Mrs. Claiborne West, formerly of Rockingham Co., Va. died Clinton, Kentucky, July 21, 1839.
January 18, 1840
JAMES MOORE born Brunwick Co., Va., March 1, 1749; reared in Lunenburg Co., Va.; married Elizabeth Hightower, February 1776; served in Revolutionary War; moved to N.C., 1786; to [Montgomery County] Tennessee, 1805; died Dickson Co., Tenn. late in 1839. [His war pension application, S4227, relates that he was born March 1, 1749 in LUNENBURG Co., Va.; lived in Amelia Co., Va. when he enlisted.]
March 21, 1840
The postmaster of Germantown, Tenn. wrote, March 8, 1840, to the editors of the ADVOCATE that former resident, W. R. DOLBY had "left here for Texas."
March 28, 1840
Tribute of respect for JAMES BUCHANAN, recently deceased; by the Rhetorical Society, Clinton College, Tenn., dated March 13, 1840. A former member. "That voice which was so soft and pleasant shall be heard no more. We shall never again look on that face which always beamed with friendship and kindness."
April 4, 1840
ANN HOOPR wife of Claibourn Y. Hooper; daughter of L. Keeling (dec); died Nashville, Tenn., March 28, 1840 in the 35th year of her age.
April 5, 1840
Captain JAMES RILEY, captain of the "William Tell" steamer died March 16, 1840 in the 63rd year of his age.
May 9, 1840
PETER EDES, oldest living printer in the United States, died Bangor, Maine, 1840 in the 85th year of his age.
June 27, 1840
An horrendous tornado struck NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, early afternoon of May 7, 1840; every building sustained some damage; several people were killed and even crew of three steamboats docked there were drowned as well as some flat-boaters. [It may be that some ancestors of people living now were killed in this storm and this article is worth their reading the details of the event on page 4.]
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July 4, 1840
On June 3, 1840 at the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland, it was resolved that whereas W. [Willis?] HOLLAND, dec., Wake County, No. Carolina had left in his last will/testament dated June 1807 "an amount" of bank stock to the church, and whereas his last surviving executor, W. Peck, wanted to distribute this bank stock to the church, presently, the General Conference accepted the bank stock to be used for its "own benefit and behalf."
September 19, 1840
JOHN JETT, president of the Bank of Tennessee, Sparta, Tenn., died recently. [As noted in the Nashville DAILY REPUBLICAN BANNER, September 18, 1840]
EDWARD HOGE, Warren Co., Tenn., died at age 59 years, recently. [As announced in the Nashville WHIG, September 11, 1840]
October 23, 1843
SARAH JOSEPHINE WATKINS daughter of Rev. William Hamilton and Elizabeth Watkins, died Sept 25, 1843 aged about ten mos., 22 days old [November 3, 1843].
JAMES D. MOORE, near Arkansas Post, died September 16, 1843; four children.
Mrs. J. A. WAIR died Hernando, Miss., Sept. 10, 1843; formerly resided in Davidson Co., Tenn.
JAMES JOSEPH ALLEN son of Rev. D. J. Allen, died Paducah, Ky., Oct. 6, 1843 aged 6 days old.
February 16, 1844
W. L. ROBARDS "decided to move south" offered his 340 acre farm (125 acres cleared) for sale, 10 miles from Nashville, Tenn. on the Harpeth turnpike; there was one "never failing spring" on the place.
March 29, 1844
GEORGE R. FORSYTH died March 26, 1844 aged 28 years.
CATHARINE A. LAPSLEY died March 26, 1844 aged 43 years.
CATHARINE ELIZABETH ANDREWS wife of William Andrews, died March 14, 1844.
Mrs. RHODA DURRER died March 14, 1844.
May 10, 1844
Black slave woman charged with murder of young Haley, Madison Co., Tenn. was sentenced to be hanged June 21, 1844. [The detailed account of the murder of Haley/Hayley in the order book of the circuit court book of this period is missing but from the minute book two of this court, it is recorded (Pages 607, 611) that the slave, LUCY, was convicted of murder by trial on April 27, 1844 and was sentenced to be hanged on the county gallows on June 21, 1844. The Executions Docket indicates that the sentence was carried out.]
November 1, 1844
Rev. J. H. FIELDING, president of St. Charles College, MO, died Oct. 14, 1844; born Coleraine, Ireland, Feb. 28, 1796; at age 18 immigrated to the U.S.; licensed to preach in the Methodist Church, 1819; married Sarah Wrenshall, Oct. 4, 1820; five children; professor of Math, Madison College, 1826-l830; president there, 1830-31; math professor of Augusta College and in May 1835 appointed president of St. Charles College; had masonic funeral.
December 20, 1844
ORRIN CLOVER cut his wife's throat and his own, killing both, Annesdale, N.Y., Dec. 10, 1844; parents of three children, the oldest 8 years and the youngest nineteen months.
April 18, 1845
On April 1, 1845 JAMES ELLIS, Alleghany, Pa., passenger on the steamboat, Josephine, was killed when an engine on the boat exploded, scalding and killing several people.
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June 6, 1845
JAMES WEADEN moved from Georgia to Tennessee more than 25 years ago; married (1) Elizabeth Hunter; (2) Elizabeth Casey; carried two of his first wife's children, James Hunter Weaden and Cynthia Weaden, with him; John Hunter of Chambers Co., Ala. wanted to know whereabouts of this family.
August 1, 1845
Tribute of respect for THOMAS SHIELDS who died in South America, June 6, 1845; by the Cumberland Masonic Lodge #8, dated July 19, 1845.
September 19, 1845
An older man surnamed LEE was shot and killed by double-barreled shotgun, two miles west of Brownsville, Tenn., September 6, 1845. [See page 99.]
January 2, 1846
CATHARINE LITTON, wife of Joseph Litton, native of Ireland, died Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 26, 1845 aged about 70 years; resident of Nashville since July 1818.
MRS. NARCISSA H. FOSTER, wife of James H. Foster, died near Nashville, Dec. 17, 1845 in the 41st year of her age.
January 16, 1846
Dr. JOSEPH H. PEYTON, born Sumner Co., Tenn., 1809; married Mary E. Hatton, 1841; died Nov. 12, 1845; two children; wanted to be buried beside his father. The account of Dr. Peyton, in the VIRGINIA GENEALOGIES, by Horace E. Hayden, 1891, pages 554-55 (note difference in his birth and death dates in this genealogy and those given in the obituary):
120. HON. JOSEPH HOPKINS7 PEYTON, M. D. (John5, Robert5, Valentine4, Henry3, Henry2, Henry1), of Sumner county, Tenn., b. Sumner county, May 20, 1808; d. do. Nov. 11, 1845; m. --, MARY ELIZABETH HATTON, b. Aug. 16, 1822, daughter of Rev. Robert C. Hatton, and sister of General Robert Hatton, C.S.A.*
*General Robert Hatton, C.S.A., b. Tenn., d. Ma y 31, 1862. He was Capt. of Co. K, 7th Tenn. Inf., when that Reg't was organized, May 25, 1861, and was elected Colonel. He was appointed Brig. Gen. May 23, 1862, commanding 5th Brig., 1st, Div., 1st Army Corps, A. N. Va. He was killed at the battle of Seven Pines, Va., May 31, 1862. Just before the action, riding before his brigade, he addressed them in stirring words, with deep emotion, then giving the command, "Fix bayonets, quickstep, forward, march," he advanced with his men on the Federal batteries. He was killed in this charge. Gen'l G. W. Smith, in his Off. Rep. (O. R., I. Vol. XI., pt. I., 991), thus spoke of him: "The personal bearing and conduct of the lamented Gen'l Hatton upon the field was gallant, noble and true to his high social and official character. He fell while bravely and skillfully leading his brigade in the extreme front of the battle." See Military Annals of Tenn., p. 230.
Dr. Peyton grad. M. Do 1837; entered political life as mem. Tenn. Senate, 1840. He was elected to the U. S. Cong. 1843; re-elected 1845, but death prevented his serving. In announcing this event to the House of Rep., Dec., 1845, Hon. Milton Brown, his colleague, spoke of Dr. Peyton, as follows:
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On the 11th of November last Dr. Joseph H. Peyton died at his residence in Tennessee. He was my colleague and intimate friend. . . . Dr. Peyton was comparatively young, and in the full career of distinction for himself and usefulness to his country. To high intellectual power he added energy of character and moral qualities which gave him a commanding influence with those associated with him, both in public and private life. He was distinguished for firmness in what he believed to be right, and for unspotted integrity and purity of purpose in all his actions. In proportion to his noble qualities was the almost unbounded confidence and affection of his friends. The hearts that beat for him moved with no ordinary pulsation. In the Senate Chamber of his own State and on this floor his clear and vigorous intellect and the noble and generous qualities of his heart had won for him an enviable distinction. His constituents were proud of him; and he stood among them without a rival. They had but recently passed on his conduct, and renewed his commission with evidences of decided approbation. In his domestic circle be had the full measure of earthly happiness, to a heart like his, the unbounded affection of the accomplished companion of his bosom, and the offspring of their mutual love. His earthly cup was full — full of all that makes life, for the present, desirable, and full of all that seemed to throw light and hope on the future. But an all-wise and inscrutable Providence has called him away; his seat on this floor is vacant, and his hitherto happy home is desolate, and hung with the weeds of mourning. Such is the uncertainty of human life." |
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its excellent abilities, Mr. Peyton had inherited their high qualities, and brought them to a public service, where, young as he was, and brief as was his career, he had already made them strongly felt. No man could be braver, no man sincerer; and the force of his character was completed by an understanding highly vigorous and just, as well as excellently cultivated. Nor were his properties less kindly and gentle in the private offices of life than manly and commanding in whatever of difficulty or duty called them up to exertion." |
Children:
248. i. JOHN CAMPBELL8, M.D., C.S.A., b. Feb. 7, 1842; m. Pittsburg, Pa., Eliza C. dau. of Dr. John J. Myers of Pa. Dr. P. grad. M.D., Phila., Mar. _, 1866; served as Surgeon 4th Ky. Inf., C.S.A., 1861, and later as Surgeon on staff of his uncle Gen'l Hatton, C.S.A.; is now with L. H. Harris' Drug Co., Pittsburg, Pa.
Children:
i. John Randolph, b. June 5, 1883.
249. ii. JOSEPH BALIE, b. May 16, 1845; m. Jan. _, 1870, Mary Wharton. He grad. L.L.B. Cumberland Univ., 1868.
Children:
- Jessie Hewitt, b. Nov. 1, 1870.
- Carrie Bell, b. May 3, 1872.
- Joseph Wharton, b. Oct. 3, 1873.
- Lytle, b. May 13, 1875.
- Mary Belle, b. Apr. 7. 1877.
- John, b. Dec. 2, 1878.
- Emily Hatton, b. Sep. 19, 1880.
- Robert Hewitt, b. Mar. 31, 1882.
- Balie, Jr., b. Feb. 15, 1884.
- Wharton Green, b. Oct. 2, 1885.
- Sallie Barry, b. June I, 1887.
John L. Peyton, private in Co. K, 7th Tenn. Reg., Gen. Hatton's Company, was killed May 31, 1862, at the same time that Gen. H. fell. Was he of this family?
February 6, 1846
INFORMATION WANTED. BUSHROD W. MUSGROVE left Jasper, Walker Co., Ala. about July l0, 1840; had last been heard from in Catahoola Parish, La.; his father, Rev. Edward G. Musgrove, Jasper, Ala. wanted to know present whereabouts of his son.
April 17, 1846
INFORMATION WANTED. Mrs. NANCY BALEY, widow Adairville, Ky., wanted to present whereabouts of her son, JONATHAN R. BALEY, reared in Robertson Co., Tenn., who left home about 11 years ago; when last heard about he was rafting logs down the Yazoo River.
April 24, 1846
ALONZO PENNINGTON, convicted murderer of Simon Davis, was scheduled to be hanged in Hopkinsville, Ky., May 1, 1846.
May 29, 1846
Major RINGGOLD in General Zachary Taylor's American military forces was wounded in fighting near Matamoras, Mexico, near the Texas border, June 8, 1845 and died two days later.
Reverend JOHN BERRY McFERRIN wrote from Petersburg, Va., May 13, 1846, that he had visited the old graveyard of Blandford Church there and copied some of the inscriptions: COLONEL WILLIAM POYTHRESS died 1763; SAMUEL GORDON, son of DAVID GORDON, esq., Craig, Stewetry, Kirkbubright, North Briton, aged 54 (with coats of arms); Mrs. LUCY WILLIAMS wife of Mr. Thomas Williams; daughter of Mr. James Boissean [Boisseau?], and his wife, Mary, was born Feb. 8, 1730; married Nov. 27, 1746; died July 25, 1747; DAVID LANG, shipmaster, son of David Lang, Innerhip who died in Virginia, May 21, 1762 aged 31 years; "In memory of DAVID ANDERSON"; Capt. WILLIAM WARD died Oct. 21, 1815; Rev. ANDREW SYME, DD., died 1845 aged 90 years, pastor of Blandford Church 40 years [1794-1839; forty-five years]; the church believed to have been built in 1700. [The church was built in 1738. A picture of this old church is found between pages 144-145 in OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS AND FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA, by Bishop William Meade, volume one, 1857:
OLD BLANFORD CHURCH, PETERSBURG, VA.
"Lone relic of the past! old mouldering pile,
Where twines the ivy round its ruins gray."
August 7, 1846
JAMES B. WHITE married the daughter of Rev. John Hill, Anson Co., N.C.; moved to Dickson Co., Tenn. about ten years ago; then about 2 years ago to Ark. William Hill of Anson Co., N.C. wanted to know present whereabouts of this family.
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August 14, 1846
The disappearance of F. ADOLPHUS MUIR, Dinwiddie Co., Va., on Feb. 2, 1846 was cleared up when his body was found buried, purportedly killed for money by a Mr. Eppes.
August 28, 1846
Recently Lt. C. D. JORDAN was presented a sword in recognition of his valorous fighting in battles in Mexico, having received three gunshot wounds in his back, two in the chest, two bayonet stabs in the back, while surviving all these injuries. Beautifully inscribed on the sword, "To Lieut. CHARLES D. JORDAN, 8th Infantry, U.S.A. from his fellow townsmen residing in New York, as a mark of their respect for his brave conduct at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, May 8th and 19th, 1846. Presented July 17th 1846."
September 4, 1846
Rev. E. [Elisha W.] BOWMAN's funeral was held in Estill Co., Ky., July 19, 1846; began his Methodist ministry in Ohio, 1803-04, preaching in La., including New Orleans for several years; superannuated 1810-1811 and studied medicine in Nashville; practiced medicine in Cynthiana, Ky.; moved to Estill Co., Ky.; married Miss Monagol and practiced medicine there; raised a respectable family.
Rev. WILLIAM L. BENTON, Virginia Conference, died August 5, 1846.
September 25, 1846
Three sons of JAMES GILL were burned to death when peach brandy that their father was emptying into a barrel too near a fire caught fire that got out of control, burned their residence and killing the boys. Fayetteville, Tenn., September 2, 1846.
October 6, 1846
LOUISA MATILDA TURNER daughter of Daniel Harris, Madison Co., Ala., married Henry Turner, Jan. 5, 1838; born January 11, 1822; died recently.
October 23, 1846
CHRISTOPHER SULLIVANT son of Benjamin Sullivant died September 24, 1846 near Cainsville, Lebanon Circuit, Tennessee.
Referred from page 56:
TAYLOR'S METHODIST CHAPEL, FAYETTE CO., TENN
EDMUND TAYLOR (1785-1871), son of Reverend Howell Taylor, settled with his family in Fayette County, just south of the boundary line of Haywood County, building a large frame residence on the apex of a long sloping incline opening to the public road of the time. In 1847, he essentially built a small brick Methodist Church on his homeplace, a building still standing, used now only for "reunion" occasions. To reach this historic old church when traveling on Highway 76 south of Dancyville, Tennessee, at a point about a mile and a half turn onto the Old Brownsville Road; travel it south just short of two miles to Boothe Road; turn onto this road and less than 1 mile turn north onto a lane leading shortly to the church, visible; beyond the church about .2 mile northeast off a grassy lane is the old Taylor graveyard in which Edmund Taylor and numerous ones of his descendants are buried. This old plantation was called "Sylvan Ridge."
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Refer from page 96 (September 15, 1845)
HERNDON HARALSON, citizen of Haywood County, Tennessee, a many-years diarist of that locality mentions the murder of JAMES R. LEA in his diary in September 1845, taking his notes evidently from the Jackson, Tennessee REPUBLICAN, as did the editorial staff of the CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, only writing a longer account of the tragedy. Haralson's account:
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A BLOODY TRAGICAL SCENE Mr. JAMES R. LEA of Haywood County left home on Saturday the 6th of September 1845 and rode up about 10 miles to Brownsville for some money which one Absalom Bostwick had promised to loan him. Bostwick makes him drunk and tells him as he was drunk (Lea) had better give him his bond for five hundred dollars and he would loan him that sum and to come up when sober and he should have the money. Lea consented. The bond was drawn for $9000 instead of $500 as Lea expected and he signed it and a witness signs the acknowledgment without hering the bond read. Lea starts home about dark and rides about a mile and a half when in the dark he meets some person who shoots five rifle balls in his breast, two of which passed through his heart. The corps [sic] of Mr. Lea lay there and was discovered by a negro boy traveling the road next morning who gave the alarm. The coroner was notified who summoned his jury of inquest and reported accordingly. This tragic circumstance produced such excitement as induced the citizens to assemble on Monday the 8th and subscribe a reward for the detention of the murderer. At the same time a vigilant committee was appointed to inquire into this misterious [sic] murder. In five or six days inquiry of this committee, they (it seems) had reason to believe that this Bostwick or his negro man committed the murder. The negro was apprehended and examined who confessed that his master killed Lea and that he was present by the order of his master and mentioned many other circumstances which induced the committee to believe that the negro told the truth. A warrant was issued for Bostwick and he was apprehended. The Atto. Gen'l. was sent for who arrived on the 15th but such was the excitement, the examining court did not sit until the 18th. Court set five days and examined about 40 witnesses. The most of which gave strong circumstantial evidence, and such as induced all who heard it, to believe Bostwick is guilty. Tho nothing positive except the negro (who is no evidence). After the argument by chancellors on the 23rd, the prisoner was committed for his trial in the Circuit Court 4 Monday Oct. 1845. Buy by a writ of Habeas Corpus, he was removed to Raleigh in Shelby County near Memphis where on the 15th, he was acquitted and returned home. It is reported that on his return he wrote to Gen'l. Loving asking whether or not he would be safe to remain in town. Loving advised him to clear out immediately, that his life was in danger and that he accordingly left before day and has not been seen since except by negroes. It is supposed that he is concealed in his own house. Search is made but cannot find him. September [30th?] we are now informed this Absalom Bostwick is now in Texas. His council sues the widow at Nashville. Court of United States. Continued to Nashville court. |
[There is a photocopy of Haralson's diary, which he began January 1, 1837 and which he kept until shortly before his death, in the Tenn. State Library and Archives.]
Refer from page 95 (May 10, 1844)
Slave woman sentenced to be hanged for murdering "young Haley," Madison Co., Tennessee
It would appear from the documentation that has survived regarding this long-ago tragedy that the slave woman, LUCY, was charged in murdering one of the children of James W. and Eliza M. Hayley (more properly so spelled), Madison Countians. The ADVOCATE mentions that she had been charged with murdering a "young" Haley, i.e. Hayley which is substantiated by the fact that no one of the pertinent Hayleys, among the adults, died in this period. (A James Haley had died in 1842 and left two children of another local family.) See, below, from the Execution Docket of the Circuit Court in this case where the two major witnesses, who were paid fees for their testimony, really appearance in court, in April, were James W. and Eliza M. Hayley, for which the former signed a
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voucher as having been paid these fees and so signed by him, June 21, 1844. (Madison County Execution Docket, 1840-1844, April term of court, 1844):
Click here for larger image
James W. Hayley, born in February 1804, was a stepson of Matthias Deberry, one of the most prominent citizens of early Madison County, an early sheriff, and builder of the old brick mansion still standing about four miles east of Jackson, Tennessee, the plantation first known as Rose Green but later named Rose Hill, which name it still bears. (Letters in possession of Betty Young Hopper, of Jackson, among members of the Deberry family reveal the initial name of this plantation.)
The 1840 U.S. census of Madison Co. (page 79) indicates that James Hayley had at least six surviving children at that time; there were probably more before his death a few years after the death of his unfortunate child. Matthias Deberry had provided a modest acreage for the Hayleys but being in an unhealthy location it was swapped out for another tract, just about the time of the homicide in question; as plainly explained in Madison County Circuit Court Minute Book, 1840-1844, pages 544-545.
The Circuit Court overruled Lucy's move for a new trial and as the jury had sentenced her guilty of murder, it was ordered by the court that she be "taken to the jail of Madison County from whence she came and there be securely kept until the Friday, the twenty-first day of June next and that on that date she be taken hence to the common gallows of said county and there between the hours of ten o'clock in the forenoon and two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, be hanged by the neck until she be dead and that the sheriff of Madison County do execution of this sentence."
The evidence presented in this case must have been overwhelming against Lucy because in most instances involving capital punishment of slaves in this county those cases were referred for review by the western division of the state supreme court, in Jackson; all of which were, as well as the present writer can recall, later affirmed by the higher court and dates established for execution definitely established. It is a sad, sad horror that a child had to die and that a slave had to die for supposedly causing the former's death, but we in a later age are left with only historical regrets, for the most part, because the records which would have informed us better of "what happened" seem to have disappeared forever.
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