Family Friday: Christopher Colbert "Col" Chappell & Wife Cornelia Josephine "Puss" Stanley Chappell

This double portrait of Col Chappell and his wife was posted to her tree by a distant Freeman cousin who's an Ancestry DNA match.* Since my family tree has quite a few Chappells in it, including my 3X great grandmother Sarah Heath Chappell, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Col is also related to me through his father's line.**

Col was born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, in 1849 and that's where he and Puss were married. They remained in Alabama (where five of their eventual twelve children were born) until about 1882 when they removed to Texas where they lived out their days.

Puss died on 1934 and Col survived her by three and a half years. They are both buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Hall County.

[Posted by their descendant KathyWhitaker51 to her Ancestry family tree]

Here's how we're related:

[Ancestry.com]

*As a 5th - 8th cousin
**I'll have to research his lineage to find out.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Monday Is for Mothers: Sarah Elizabeth Chappell (1830 - 1917)

Sarah's father Abram Heath Chappell was the brother of Sarah Heath Chappell Hardy (my great great great grandmother) which makes her one of my first cousins, four times removed.

[Posted to her Ancestry.com family tree by suzannepatton1]

Sarah was born in Cotton Valley, Macon County, Alabama, and that's probably where she met and married James Campbell Gambill Russell Patton*who had begun his teaching career there and that's where the couple's first child was born in 1851. 

Sarah and J.C.G.R. had six children, only three of whom lived to maturity. After her husband's death in 1912 Sarah moved from her home in Grandview, Johnson County, to Waco, McLennan County, Texas, where her youngest son Abram Chappell Patton had established himself as a successful business man and community leader. 

The abbreviated biography in the first paragraph of Sarah's obituary doesn't completely agree with existing information we have for her husband.**

[31 Mar 1917, Page 11 - Waco Morning News at Newspapers.com]

She's buried with J.C.G.R. in Grandview Cemetery.

[Findagrave.com memorial #31497872; photo added by Judi W #46932124]

Here's how we're connected:

[Ancestry.com]

*He's always referred to as J.C.G.R. Patton.
**As you can see he was a well-respected teacher and Methodist Episcopal minister.

[From manuscript at Layland Museum in Cleburne Texas "The Churches of Grandview" and clipping from article written by Al Smith published in the "Texas Christian Advocate," and information given by Mrs. Virginia Heath Freeman, Cleburne.
Posted to her Ancestry.com family tree by suzannepatton1 ]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: John Chappell - Monroe County, Georgia - 1828

An obituary found for John Chappell, one of my paternal fourth great grandfathers, gave his age as 65 years at the time of his death on December 1, 1828. If that date is correct, his death must have been anticipated because two of his sons who were named as executors of this 1827 will appeared in court on December 8th and probate was recorded on December 10th.
 



Georgia              }
Monroe County  }  In the name of God, Amen.
I, John Chappell of the State & County , aforesaid being of Sound mind & good
bodily health but considering the uncertainty of human life, do make this my
last will & Testament in manner following viz.
First I recommend my South to God who gave it, & my body I committ
to the earth & as to my worldly estate, I give & bequeath to Nancy
Bonner, Martha ^Heath^ Eliza Douglas, Abraham H. Chappell, George A
Chappell, & Sarah H Chappell & John d. Chappell one thousand
Dollars each with the following understanding & limitation, viz. it is
to be considered that I have heretofore advanced & paid over to Nancy
Bonner the sum of nine hundred & twenty dollars which ^last is to be
computed in making the sum of one thousand dollars to said
Nancy. I have also advanced & paid over to Martha Heath the
Sum of one thousand dollars which is to considered as a full
payment of the above mentioned Legacy to said Martha.
I have also heretofore advanced & paid over to Eliza Douglas the
Sum of Six hundred & twenty five dollars which amount is to be
computed in making the sum of one thousand dollars to Said
Eliza. I have also heretofore advanced & paid over to Abraham H
Chappell the sum of Seven hundred dollars, which amount is to
be computed in making up the aforesaid Sum of one thousand
dollars to the said Abraham H. I have also heretofore ^advanced &^ paid over
to Said John d. Chappell the Sum of Fifteen hundred dollars
which is to be considered as a full Satisfaction of the above 
legacy, one thousand dollars & five hundred dollars on 
advance of the Share of the Said John D. of my residuing
Estate,     after the payment of my Specific legacies,

I have also heretofore advanced & paid over the George A. Chappell
the Sum of one thousand dollars which is to be considered a
full payment & Satisfaction of aforesaid legacy of one thousand
dollars to said George A.
I give & bequeath to Joseph T. Chappell the Sum of fifteen
hundred dollars, as an estate for the life of the Said Joseph T.
to be divided equally between all of the before named Legacies
after the death of the Said Joseph T & the Said Joseph T. is to
be at liberty to live with either of his brothers viz. Abraham H.
Chappell, John D.Chappell & George A Chappell who are
to share equally the use & benefit of the last mentioned
legacy to the Said Joseph T., during the natural life of the
Said Joseph T. on the condition of their contributing to his
Maintenance,
To my beloved wife Sara P. Chappell I give & bequeath Lot Aa.
one hundred and forty five in the Sixth district of Monroe County
I also the three negroes Mysich, Mary, & Beeley the property so
bequeather to my beloved wife, is to be enjoyed By her during her
Natural life, & at her death is to return to my estate to be distributed
as hereafter mentioned,
All the residue of my estate not herein above disposed of & also
that part of ^which is^ bequeathed to my beloved wife, after her death is to be
divided equally between the above mentioned Nancy Bonner Martha
Heath, Eliza Douglas Abraham H Chappell John D. Chappell
George A Chappell & Sarah H Chappell Should either of the last
mentioned legaties viz. the Martha Nancy Eliza Abraham H. John D
George A or Sarah H. Die before me the portion herein bequeatherd
to Such Legacies Shall descend to the heirs of Such legated
Should either of Said Legacies die before my wife the Share of Such
legated in the property herein bequeather to my wife after he
death Shall descend to the heirs of such Lagaties.
I nominate & appoint my Son Abraham H Chappell John D
Chappell & George A Chappell Executors of this my will.
In witness thereof to this my ^Said^ will I have set my hand and Seal
The Twenty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thous-
and eight hundred & Twenty five                  John Chappell {Seal}
Signed Sealed published                              ---------   --------------
Declared in the presence }     Georgia         } Before us James H. Gorden
Robert T. H. Abeller       } Monroe County } and John Spoollin Justices
John F Brooks                 }  of the Inferior Court for the County afore
John Redding                  }  said personally appeared John Redding
Angus M.D. King           }  and Angus M.D. King who being
                                        }  Duly Sworn on oath Say that they

["Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893L-GWPH?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-L27%3A267724601%2C267815001 : 20 May 2014), Monroe > Wills 1824-1866 vol A-B > image 31 of 448;

county probate courthouses, Georgia.]

John Chappell later of this county deceased Sign Seal and

acknowledge the foregoing instrument as his last will and Testa-

ment and that at the time of Said signing Sealing and

acknowledging he was of Sound & disposing mind and memory

and that they both Subscribed Said will and attesting 

witnesses in the presence of the Said John Chappell and Saw

John T. Brooks & Robert J. H. Abeller Subscribe the Same as

Witnesses

Subscribed & Sworn to in the presence of }        John Redding

John Trathin J JC.                                       }     Angus M.D. King

J. H. Geran  J J.C.                                       }

--------   ----------

Georgia             }  I Abraham H. Chappell and John D Chappell

Monroe County } Do Solemnly Swear that this writing contains

the true last will of the within named John Chappell 

Deceased So far as we Know or believe, and that I will

well and truly execute the Same by paying the debts and

then these legacies contained in the Said will as far as his

Goods and Chattles will thereunto extend, and the law charge

and that I will make a true and perfect Inventory of all Such

Goods and Chattles So help me God Sworn to this 8th

December 1828                           Abraham H. Chappell

Elias Beall C.C.O.    ordered       John D. Chappell

-------------  ------                        -------  -----  ----------

                    Recorded 10th December 1828

                              Elias Beall C.C.O.

And here's my relationship to John Chappell:

[Ancestry.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: John H. Hardy - Russell County, Alabama - 1854

When this paternal fourth great grandfather John Hardy* made his will in April of 1854 he was 81 and had outlived two wives and a number of his children including my direct ancestor Alfred Ward Hardy.

["Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. County courthouses, Alabama.]

         Will of John Hardy
Russell County
  State of Alabama } I, John Hardy of the State
and County aforesaid being of sound mind
and memory do make and ordain this my last
will and testament as follows. First I direct
that all my just debts shall be paid. Second
I wish and it is my will that my daughter Fer-
aby Lockhurt shall have my horse and buggy
  Third. I wish and is my will that my negro woman
Rachel shall be permitted to live with my children as
she may desire. David Lockhart my son in law is
hereby appointed her Guardian to whose direction
and control I commit her that my will herein ex-
pressed may be performed as the laws of the State
may allow.
 Fifth. After the above special bequests have been made
it is my will that all my property be equally divided a-
mong all my children, the living children of those that
are dead receiving that portion that would belong to the
parents were they living.
  Sixth. I hereby appoint my son Wm Hardy to 
that portion of my property which I have bequeath
ed to the children of my daughter Elenor Lockhart 
deceased. I also direct said Trustee to hold said
property until the youngest living child of the
aforesaid Elenor Lockhart shall be twenty one years
of age or shall marry when I desire that the mon-
ey with the accruing interest to be equally divided
among the legal heirs of my daughter aforesaid
  Seventh I hereby appoint my son in law David
Lockhart trustee for the children of my son James
W Hardy deceased the money to be managed as directed
for the funds of the children of my daughter Elenor Lockhart
  Eighth. I hereby appoint my grandson James W Hardy
trustee for the children of my son John P Hardy deceased
Gabriel Parks trustee for the children of my daughter
mary G Parks deceased, Abram Chappel Trustee for the
children of my son Alfred Hardy deceased, William Bennett
Trustee for the children of my daughter Louisa Bennett
deceased and Mr. Wesson, the present husband of their
mother trustee for the children of my son Charles Har-
dy deceased and these trustees thus appointed are
requested to receive the property of the respective
legatees and to dispose of the same according
to the laws of the State of Alabama. I hereby
/
appoint David Lockhart & John H Lockhart
his son executors to this my last will nad
testament. In witness whereof I hereunto
set my hand and seal April 12th 1854
Test.  David Watson                  }
         Nashe Sledge                   } John Hardy {Seal}
         A B Bennett                     }

The State of Alabama Russell County
   Be it remembered that on this 18th day of
November AD 1854 in the probate Court of said
County personally came David Watson & Abijah B Bennett
two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will of
John Hardy deceased who being duly sworn do depose
and say that they each saw the said John Hardy sign
seal publish and declare the same to be and contain
his last will and testament on the 12th April 1854;
that they each signed the same as witnesses in the pres-
ence of the said John Hardy and that they saw the
other witness sign the same as a witness in the pres-
ence of the said John Hardy and that the said John
Hardy at the time of signing said will was of sound
mind and that he executed the same without any
fears threats or compulsion so far as they know
or believe
   Sworn to 18th November 1854   } David Watson
          Thomas S Tate                     } A B Bennett
                 Judge of Probate

The first thing I noticed while doing the transcription of John's will is that whoever copied the original will into the probate record seems to have left out a section as it jumps from third to fifth.

There are lots more probate records available on FamilySearch so I'll see what else I can find. We know that John owned at least one enslaved person, Rachel. If I can locate the inventory of his estate we'll know more about his other possessions.


*Here's my descent from John H. Hardy.

[Ancestry.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Gone for Soldiers: Valley Forge Anniversary

It's now 240 years since my paternal great grandfather Abraham Heath (c. 1740-c. 1807) went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) with the rest of George Washington's Continental Army.

[March to Valley Forge - William Trego, Philadelphia, 1883. This painting is now in the collection of The Museum of the American Revolution]

My ancestor's term of enlistment in the Virginia Line of the Continental Army ended in February so he didn't spend the entire winter in Valley Forge. You can read about his life after he went home here and learn the terms of his 1807 Warren County, Georgia, will here.

And here's a reminder of how I'm descended from Abraham Heath:

[Ancestry.com]

© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Abraham Heath - Warren County, Georgia, 1808

It's clear from his 1807 will that my fifth great grandfather Abraham Heath had prospered during his lifetime. If my count is correct he named 30 enslaved persons he bequeathed to his wife, children and grandchildren. (Only his wife, two of his sons and a grandson merited the epithet "beloved".)

["Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893T-8QSY?cc=1999178&wc=9SBQ-W3V%3A267818601%2C267885001 : 20 May 2014), Warren > image 104 of 362;

county probate courthouses, Georgia.]

     In the name of God, Amen, I, Abraham Heath
of the County of Warren & State of Georgia, planter being
weak in Body but in perfect mind & memory, thanks be given
to Almighty God calling to mind the mortality of my Body and
knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, do
make & ordain this my last Will & Testament (That is to say
principally and first of all I Recommend my Soul to God that
gave it and my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried
in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors
nothing doubting that at the General Resurrection I Shall receive
the Same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching the
worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in 
this life I Give devise and dispose of in the following Manner 
and form (Viz)
First I Give and bequeath to my Son John Heath one Negro Man
     named Isaac, one woman named Dice and one Negro Boy Named
     Tillman with their Increase to him & his heirs forever.
Item I Give to my Daughter Sally Chapple, the following Negroes one
     woman named Fanny Girl Mary Girl Lydia, Girl Ambry & Boy
     Henry with their Increase to her and heirs forever
Item I Give to my Son Benjamin Heath three negroes Viz Mymsy
     and her two Sons Henry & Charles with their Increase forever
Item I Give to my beloved Son William Heath two negroes Viz Jeffrey
     and Turner to him and his heirs forever
Item I Give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Polly Clower one
     negro Girl named Sarah
Item: I Give to my beloved Grandson Stephen B Clower one Negro
     Boy Isaac
Item I give to my Grand Daughter Linney Clower one Negro
     Boy Sam
Item I Give to my Grandson Green Clower one Negro Boy Charles
Item I Give to my Grandson Abraham H Clower one Negro Woman
     Milley with her Increase
Item I Give to my beloved Son Adam Heath one Negro Man
     Ranger, two hundred Acres of Land which he has titles
     for one Black Gelden and one Gray also one Bed and
     furniture
Item I Give ^and bequeath^ to my Daughter Elizabeth Heath two Negroes Beck
     and Child Clary
Item I Give to my Daughter Polly Heath one Negro Girl Hannah
     also one Bed & furniture with Bed Sted to her and her &
     her heirs forever
Item I Give to my Daughter Frances B Highfield one Negro Woman
     Named Silvia with her Increase to her & her heirs forever
Item I Give to my Son Richard Heath, One Negro Boy Named
     Jacob, one Sorrel Filley and one Bed & furniture with Sted
Item I Give to my Son Abraham Heath One Negro Boy Nathan
     and one Bed and furniture with Bed Sted
Item I Give to my Grandson Abraham Heath Chappell
     one Negro Boy Ephraim.
Item I Give and bequeath to my beloved wife Winnyford
     Heath two Negro women Anckey & Amy to Enjoy the same
     free from any Incumberances forever I also Lend
     my Wife all the Rest of my Estate both Real and personal
     during her Natural Life or Widowhood and after [?]
     [?] marriage, it is my Request that my Sons Richard
     and Abraham jointly should heir my Real Estate


     and that Richard should have Big Negro Charles and
     Big Jack, and one Negro Girl Patience to be equally shared
     betwixt the afore mentioned Richard & Abraham, and the
     Rest of my personal Estate after my wifes death or Widowhood
     to be equally divided among all my children
     and I nominate and appoint my Son Adam Heath
     Solomon Slatter and Elisha Hest Executors to this my last
     will and Testament and futhermore I disannull and revoke
     all former will or wills by me heretofore made.
     Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by --
     the Said Abraham Heath as my last will and Testament
     in the presents of us whose names are hereunto ? -------
    this 23'd day of November in this Year of our Lord one
    thousand eight hundred and Seven
                                                                      his
     Stephen W Burnley                            Abraham X Heath
     Britain Blunt                                                mark
            her
     Mary X Garrett
           mark

                                      Probate
Georgia
Warren County   }  Personally appeared Stephen W Burnley
and being duly Sworn and on the holy Avangelist and
God deposeth and Saith that he Saw Abraham [Heath]
make his mark and publish and declare this ?---------
of writings his last will and Testament [and at]
the time of his So doing he was of Sound disposing
mind and memory being then in his presence 
And in the presence of the other Subscribing [witnesses]
and at his Request they all became witnesses 
to the Same. Sworn to in open court this ?----
of January 1808
                                                          Stephen W Burnley
Septimus Weatherby
C.C.O.W.Co.

Next I'm going to see if I can find an inventory of his will.
                   



© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Monday Is for Mothers: Timney P. Watts (1805 - 1863) - Probate Records, Part 11, Sorting Out the Male Heirs

You may recall in my last post that dealt with her probate records there was a list of heirs of Timney P. Watts Warren Phillips named in the depositions which included the names of eight individuals I didn't recognize: William R. (W.R.) Phillips, Josiah Phillips, Martha Adams, Mary Lane, and Elizabeth, Eugenia, Columbiana and John T. Phillips.

In my efforts to discover who these people were, I returned to the probate records for Timney's second husband, John P. Phillips (1792-1852) and found a list of his heirs filed by her attorneys* on July 15, 1852 in connection with her dower claims.

[Description : Probate Court Record, Vol 4, 1850-1853. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.. Original data: Alabama County, District and Probate Courts.]

where your petitioner Sheweth the following persons are the heirs and
legatees of said Estate Thomas H Phillips William A Phillips Frederick Phillips
Josiah Phillips Thadeus Phillips Mary E Lane wife of Alexander Lane &
Martha A Adams wife of James Adams all of whom are over the age of
twenty years -- also Jeremiah D Phillips Lucinda I Phillips Littleberry B Phillips
John C Phillips and Elizabeth Lockwood who are under the age of twenty
one. Your petitioner prays that your Honor upon the hearing of this petition
order and decree that her dower in Said lands be advanced and 
allotted to her in accordance with the statute in such cases [?] and
provided.                                  Timney Phillips
                                                  per Clopton & Ligon her attys

From this record we can confirm that William R and Josiah Phillips have to be added to the family tree along with Martha Adams** and Mary Lane. And two more sons have been revealed who weren't included in the later list--Frederick and Thad[d]eus.

From a later probate record (February, 1856) we can learn more about Frederick (1820-1855).

[Description : Estate Papers, Petteway, Ignatius W to Phillips, Nancy. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Alabama County, District and Probate Courts.]

The State of Alabama     {Personally appeared before me
   Macon County             {Linus Alexander Judge of Probate
when being duly  Thomas H Phillips admin of John Phillips dec'd
when being duly sworn says this [?] account for final
settlement is just & true and that the following persons are the heirs
at law & distributees[?] Timney P. Phillips widow of intestate
Thos. H Phillips admin, William R. Phillips, Mary P Josiah
Phillips, Thaddeus, Jeremiah D. Lucinda I Littleberry
B. & John C the last four of whom are minors and 
reside in Macon except Littleberry B. who lives in Geo.
and Mrs Mary Phillips & her child Nancy the widow
& only child of Frederick Phillips, and Elizabeth
Lockwood the only child of A. Lockwood & Elizabeth
Lockwood & that Affiant Swears that he had
not used for his own purposes any of the money ofor
said estate that he knows of-----

From the 1850 U.S. Census we can learn a bit more about Timney's stepson Frederick and his wife Mary.

[Year: 1850; Census Place: District 21, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M432_9; Page: 201A; Image: 25.

Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

As you can see in 1850 the couple had two children, Matilda and Simeon. Simeon died at 13 months old and is buried in the Fort Family Cemetery in Macon County; we don't know any more of his older sister than this census record but she must have died sometime before the 1856 list of heirs. Although I've found no supporting documentation, some believe that Mrs Mary Phillips was Mary A. Peteet (1832-1857) who was married to Menafee Tatum*** at the time of her death and is also buried in Fort Cemetery. Since little Nancy Phillips isn't mentioned in any of the lists of heir for Timney in 1863 she had probably joined the rest of her family in the local cemetery.


The other hitherto undiscovered stepson Thaddeus (1823-1857) and his wife Mary H. Slaughter (1828-1884) had three children by the time of the 1850 U.S. Census.

[Year: 1850; Census Place: District 21, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M432_9; Page: 233A; Image: 85. 

Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

Since Thaddeus pre-deceased his stepmother, Mary Elizabeth (1844-1915), Francis G. Eugene (1847-1916), his only son John T. (1848-1884) and his youngest surviving child Columbia Ann (1856-1920) inherited their father's share of Timney's estate.

Stepson Josiah Phillips (c1822-aft1880) married Martha Ann Chappell (1826-1894)**** and they were living in Cass County, Texas, by 1854.

William R. Phillips (1818-1890) remained in Georgia where he and his wife Mary Smith Johnson (1859-1905) had 11 children. One of their younger daughter was named Nancy Timney Phillips, honoring both his birth mother Nancy Ann Pennington (1798-1826) and stepmother Timney.

Next week I'll present what I've learned about Mary and Martha.


*Her attorneys,Clopton & Ligon, were the same ones who set out the interrogatories for the Commission referred to in my previous post.
**Martha Norman Phillips was one of Timney's daughters.
***

Ancestry.com. Alabama, Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Court, and Other Records, 1784-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.

Original data: Alabama Department of Archives and History, comp. Public information subject files—Card index of personal and corporate names and of subjects, ca. 1920–1960. Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama.

****She is the granddaughter of John Chappell (c1763-1828) my fourth great grandfather, and therefore my first cousin, four times removed.


© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Gone for Soldiers: Abraham Heath at Valley Forge

Two hundred and thirty-nine years ago this week (December 19, 1777) Abraham Heath (c.1740-c.1807),* a private in the Virginia line of the Continental Army, found himself in winter quarters** with the rest of Washington's Army in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

[Valley Forge—Washington & Lafayette, 1856. Engraving, 7½ x 10½ inches (image). Henry Bryan Hall (1808–1884), after Alonzo Chappel (1828–1887). Martin, Johnson & Co., Publisher.

Photo Credit: David Bishop Skillman Library, Lafayette College, Easton, PA]

During my ancestor's time at Valley Forge his commanding officer was General George Weedon. In the map below you can see the location of the 6th Virginia Regiment's encampment.

["Encampment at Valley Forge 1778" by George W. Boynton (engraving) - Sparkes, Jered "The Life of George Washington" Boston: Tappen & Dennet 1843"The Cooper Collections of American History" (uploader's private collection)Scanned by the uploader, Centpacrr..

Licensed under PD-US via Wikipedia htps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Encampment_at_Valley_Forge_1778.jpg#/media/File:Encampment_at_Valley_Forge_1778.jpg]

Abraham's term of service was over in February of 1778 and as far as we know he went home to his wife and family (including my direct ancestor, his daughter Sallie Heath Chappell) as soon as he was mustered out.


*My paternal fifth great grandfather--I wrote a series of posts about what we know of his military experiences from the records in 2015: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI
 .
**You can learn more about the huts built by the soldiers at Valley Forge here.



© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Monday Is for Mothers: Timney P. Watts (1805 - 1863) - Probate Records, Part 10, The Commission and the Depositions

As we saw in the previous post about probate records for my third great grandmother Timney P. Watts Warren Phillips, her heirs petitioned the Court to allow her land to be sold because "Said lands cannot be equitably fractioned or divided between Said Joint Owners without a Sale [.]" and that the Court appointed W.F. Hodnett as Commissioner empowered to take depositions of witnesses. Here's the official Commission signed by Judge C.A. Stanton which was misfiled in John P. Phillips' probate records.

[Description : Estate Papers, Petteway, Ignatius W to Phillips, Nancy. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Alabama County, District and Probate Courts.]

Below is a printed form* describing the process.

[Description : Estate Papers, Phillips, Nancy (Minor) to Piques, Sarah.

Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Alabama County, District and Probate Courts.]

[Description : Probate Records, Vol 10, 1863-1866; Probate Records, Vol 11, 1866-1868. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Alabama County, District and Probate Courts.]

Thomas H Phillips       } Petition in Macon Probate Court
Jeremiah D Phillips     } to Sell Real Estate for a division
          vs                       } Interrogatories to be propounded
William R Phillips       } to William H Stanton & Alanson
                           Etal   } Lockwood Material Witness for the
Petitioners
Interrogatory 1, Are you acquainted with Certain lands, Situate
in Said County of Macon, and Known as the South half of the
north west Quarter, and Eighty Acres on the west half of the
South half of Section Eighteen (18) Township Fifteen (15) of Range
Twenty Four (24) being the dower Interest of Mrs Timney Phillips

Interrogatory 2, Are you acquainted with the heirs of John
Phillips? if Yea, name them, which are Minors, can or not
cannot Said land be equatably divided between said heirs without
a Sales? if not, state why not?                       Clopton & Ligon
                                                                      Attys for Petitioners

Depositions of Alanson Lockwood and William H Stanton
witnesses Sworn and examined under and by Virtue of a Comm-
-mission issued out of the Probate Court of the State of Alabama
for Macon County, in a Certain Cause therein depending between
Thomas H Phillips & Jeremiah D Phillips Plaintiffs and
William  R Phillips Etal Defendants,
   The witnesses being duly sworn to tell the truth, the whole
 truth and nothing but the truth, do depose[?] and Say as follows

To the first Interrogatory, they say they are acquainted with the
lands described in Said Interrogatory.

To the Second Interrogatory, they Say they are, their names are 
as follows W.R. Phillips, Josiah Phillips, Thomas H. Phillips,
Littleberry B Phillips; Jeremiah D Phillips, Lucinda I Varner

[Description : Probate Records, Vol 10, 1863-1866; Probate Records, Vol 11, 1866-1868. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Alabama County, District and Probate Courts.]

Martha Adams, Mary Lane, Elizabeth Ann Lockwood, Elizabeth
Phillips, Eugenia Phillips, Columbiana Phillips & John T Phillips
of who the last named five (5) are minors, they further answer,
that Said lands cannot be equitably divided without a sale for
the following reasons (Viz, 1st there is not enough of it, 2nd there is
no timber on it, 3rd there are two public Roads running through
it, with a lane fence to be Kept up
                                                                     A. Lockwood
                                                                    W.H. Stanton
We the Commissioner in the Said Commission named, do hereby
Certify, that the evidence of the witnesses A Lockwood & W H
Stanton, was taken down under Oath & Subscribed by them in
in our presence on the 4th day of November 1863 at Cotton Valley in
the County of Macon State of Alabama, and that we have
personal Knowledge of Said witnesses
                          Witness our hand and Seal
                                            W F Hodnett {L.S}

The living children of John P. Phillips (1792-1852) by both his wives** are named as Defendants in this "Certain Cause." And the first two men, William R. (W.R.) and Josiah***, weren't previously identified as his sons. Because William's name leads the list I'm assuming he's the eldest. It's equally unclear to me who Martha Adams and Mary Lane are as they aren't accounted for in our family tree.

The named minor heirs include Elizabeth Ann Lockwood (1851-1917) the only child of Timney's oldest daughter Elizabeth Ann Phillips and her husband Alanson Lockwood. However the connection of Elizabeth, Eugenia, Columbiana and John T. Phillips to this family are unknown to me at the moment.

So thanks to these two pages of probate records I have new people to research.



*This form is part of the records for the 1866 petition but it's unlikely that the procedure changed in the meantime.
**His first wife was Ann Nancy Pennington (1798-bef.1827).
***Our tree did have a Josiah Phillips (b.1822) who married my first cousin 4 times removed Martha Ann Chappell but we hadn't connected him to John P. Phillips and Nancy Ann.

© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Rutland Chappell Cemetery - Cass County, Texas

The full title of the wall map shown below is: A New Map of The States Of Texas & California, The Territories Of Oregon, New Mexico, Utah and the Regions adjacent. It was published in 1852, the year my ancestors moved to Cass County.

[A New Map of The States Of Texas & California; Publisher:

S. Augustus Mitchell, Philadelphia, 1852 Source: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection]

[Location of Cass County, Texas, on the above map]

A distant cousin, another descendant of J.T.S. Warren and his wife Martha Heath Hardy, just posted this on Ancestry.com:

The Warren family of Texarkana, TX (descendents of JTS Warren) are beginning the process of applying for a Historical Texas Cemetery designation by the Texas Historical Commission.

For those who don't know, the RC Cemetery is located on private property and in poor condition. Over the years it has become overgrown, un-cared for, and even vandalized. This is extremely unfortunate considering the cemetery's historical significance (it was most likely the first cemetery of Douglassville and is the resting place of the community's namesake, Col. John C. Douglass).

Eventually, we would like to get the cemetery certified as a State Historic Site, but it must first be designated as a HTC. Here are the benefits of an HTC designation:

Records the cemetery location and boundaries in the county deed records as a historically dedicated cemetery worthy of preservation. 

Helps preserve cemeteries by alerting present and future landowners of the presence of this important historical resource on their property. 

Documents the cemetery's current conditions through photographs and maps, details that may be necessary for emergency management in cases such as vandalism, fire, or other natural disasters is a prerequisite for applying for an Official Texas Historical Marker for the cemetery.

 WE WANT YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT IF YOU ARE A DESCENDENT OF SOMEONE BURIED IN RUTLAND CHAPPELL CEMETERY!

These processes move much faster and have a better chance of being accomplished with the collaboration of many people. If you would be willing to lend a hand, please message me so we can begin collaborating. I'm attaching a link to a list of those buried in the cemetery as well as a link to the Texas Historical Commision.

© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Monday Is for Mothers: Sarah "Sallie" P. Heath (About 1771 - 1837)

When her father Abraham Heath* volunteered to join the Virginia line of the Continental Army in 1776 he left his wife Winny** and their growing family behind, including little Sallie who was about five years old.

From land grant records we know the Heaths had removed from Virginia into eastern Georgia by 1786 when Abraham was allotted 200 acres next to land he already owned in Burke County and a further 550 acres in Wilkes County. And that's probably where Sallie married John Chappell; their oldest child Nancy was born about 1790 in Washington, the county seat of Wilkes.

[Georgia, from the latest Authorities. B. Tanner, sculpt. N.Y. Published by J. Reid, L. Wayland & C. Smith, 1796.

Source: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection]

By 1798 John and Sallie had moved to a bit farther west to Hancock County where my direct ancestor Sarah Heath Chappell was born in about 1812.

[Map Of The State of Georgia Prepared from actual Surveys and other Documents for Eleazer Early By Daniel Sturges. Entered According to Act of Congress by Eleazer Early Proprietor. Engraved by Saml. Harrison 1818. Published & Sold By Eleazer Early Savannah Georgia and By John Melish & Samuel Harrison Philadelphia. Source: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection.]

When Abraham Heath died in 1807 (in Warren County) Sallie's share of her father's estate was five slaves: Fanny, Mary, Lydia, Ambry and Henry.

[Administration of Estates and Wills, 1798-1852. Ancestry.com. Georgia, Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Georgia County, District and Probate Courts.]

The Chappell family continued residing in Hancock County at least through 1820 as that's where we find them in the U.S. Census of that year. However when John made his will in 1825 they were in Monroe County*** where the will was presented for probate in December of 1828.

[Wills, Vol A-B, 1824-1866. Ancestry.com. Georgia, Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Georgia County, District and Probate Courts.]

[The state of Georgia. Gridley sc. (Philadelphia: Robert DeSilver, 1827). Source: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection.]

The last record we have for Sallie is the 1834 Monroe County Property Tax Digest.

[Ancestry.com. Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Georgia Tax Digests [1890]. 140 volumes. Morrow, Georgia: Georgia Archives.]

The date of death we have for Sarah P. Heath Chappell is December 13, 1837 in Lumpkin County, Georgia, but I'm not certain of the source of this information.


*The surviving records of Abraham Heath's military service were covered here: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, and Part VI.
**We know her given name was Winnifred and her surname may have been Rives.
***Monroe County was one of five counties created out of the Creek Indians lands between the Ocmulgee and Flint rivers ceded in the Treaty of the Indian Spring on Jan. 8, 1821.


© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.