More on the Elliott family

 A couple of years ago (October 2022), I posted a lengthy piece about the family of my great-great-grandmother, Frances Jane (Elliott) Johnson. One part of my analysis concerned John Anna (Johnanna, Johanna, Joe Anna) Ragsdale, the daughter of George W. and Hester Ann Ragsdale, who married Wesley Henson (Hinson).  I suggested that her mother, Hester Ann, was a sister of Frances Jane (Elliott) Johnson; that Hester Ann had died when John Anna was a young girl and John Anna had gone to live with her grandmother, Elizabeth (Booker) Elliott (she appears in Elizabeth’s household in both the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Franklin co. AR). She continued to live with her grandmother after her father remarried and had two more children.

Some new evidence has turned up which I believe gives strong support to this hypothesis. Among Franklin county records, I found a deed index which records a deed by which Wesley Henson & wife, and F. J. Johnson convey land to one Edmund (sic) Hassett. The date of the deed is stated as 18 Jan. 1868, though it was not filed with the county until 9 Mar. 1888. Unfortunately, the book in which the actual deed was recorded seems to have been lost. However, I further found that Edward (sic) Hassett conveyed land just a few months later (19 Dec. 1868) to one David Phillips. That deed does exist, and the description of the land matches exactly the land granted to Elizabeth (Booker) Elliott in 1843 and on which she seems to have paid taxes over the next several years.

I believe the best way to understand this is that when Elizabeth (Booker) Elliott died, probably about 1863, the land passed to her heirs—her daughter Frances Jane (Elliott) Johnson and her granddaughter John Anna, daughter of her deceased daughter Hester Ann, who had by then married Wesley Henson.

It seems somewhat odd that the land was not sold for nearly five years, but then this was the tail end and the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, so it is likely many things took longer than one might expect. It is also interesting that there is no reference here to the other known surviving heir, Elizabeth’s son W. T. C. Elliott. But he had been in California and Nevada since 1849 or so, so it is possible they simply did not have contact with him. (We won’t mention that he might have been considered by some to be a bit disreputable!) 

It is interesting to note that Frances Jane (Elliott) Johnson died just six weeks after this deed was executed. Was she gravely ill and so decided it would be best to sell her mother’s property rather than leave that task to her still minor sons? The purchaser, E. B. Hassett, is believed to be the stepson of Elizabeth’s late brother Joseph Booker, thus a “step-cousin” of Frances.

 

I also recently learned that John Anna and Wesley Henson are buried in the Henson Cemetery in Mulberry, Crawford co. AR (which is just over the county line from Franklin county).

 

I wish the actual deed were available, because it might clarify matters further. But for now, I think this is good evidence that John Anna’s mother, Hester Ann, was a sister of Frances Jane (Elliott) Johnson.

Sometimes you get lucky

 Today I was browsing through deeds in Shelby and Christian county IL, hoping to find some footprints from my 3rd great grandfather John Hastings. I stumbled upon a deed in which my 2nd great grandfather, Oliver P. Hastings, purchased a lot in Pana, Christian co. IL. OK, that's interesting. So I went looking a little further in Christian county and found the deed where he sold that same lot (a month later, and for five times what he paid!), and of course his wife, Elizabeth E. (Whitaker) Hastings, had to agree to the sale as well. Lo and behold, the deed names his wife as "Elizabeth Evaline"--the only reference I've ever found that provides her middle name! Not what I was looking for (and also not what I had sort of "guessed" the E. might stand for!), but what a wonderful surprise. 

I was also surprised recently to find a good photo of her. I had a large portrait of her that has somehow gone missing, but here (again unexpectedly) I found a good quality snapshot I had taken of that portrait many years ago. Here she is: Elizabeth Evaline (Whitaker) Hastings (1836-1889):

Robert Freeburn [Freeborn], Rigger

 

           

            My third-great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Freeburn) Alfont, is said to have been the daughter of Robert Freeburn. The source for this assertion is the sketch of Elizabeth run in the Greenfield (IN) Republican, published under the heading of “Our Pioneer Sketches” 19 Aug. 1890 [“Source A”].  This sketch states the following:

 

Miss Elizabeth Freeburn was born in New York City February 10, 1805. Her parents were Robert and Elizabeth. She was one of seven children and she was next to the oldest. Her only sister is dead, and she knows nothing of her brothers. Her father was a sea-faring man. When she was ten years old she went to Philadelphia to live with her sister. At 13 she was married to William Alfonte, a contractor and builder of “The City of Brotherly Love.” They continued to live there until the fall of 1834, when they removed to a farm just south of Alfonte...

 Three other sketches have been found which refer, directly or indirectly, to Robert Freeburn. The first is from the Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Indianapolis and Vicinity (1908), in a sketch of Charles V. Hardin [“Source B”].  Hardin was the son of Philip and Mary (Freeborn) Hardin, and it states the following:

 

Philip Hardin was born in Delaware, and was but a boy when his parents removed to Philadelphia, Pa. He there engaged in the tobacco business with his brother William, but in 1839 removed to Huntsville, Ind., in wagons, the journey taking six weeks. He bought a farm of eighty acres near Alfonte, but only resided thereon for one year, there engaging in agricultural pursuits, removing to Huntsville, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade. He carried on a wagon making and blacksmith shop for many years with his brother, John, and died in the faith of the Baptist Church, Feb. 5, 1878, at Huntsville. His wife passed away in April, 1887, in Pendleton, at the home of her daughter, Margaret. Mr. Hardin was married in Philadelphia, to Mary Freeborn, born April 22, 1822 [note: Mary’s gravestone in Hunstville, IN, in which she is named as Mary Freeborn Hardin, gives her date of birth as 22 April 1808, and states that she died 6 Apr. 1889], daughter of Robert and Mary (Ingham) Freeborn, and to this union there were born children as follows: Elizabeth, Margaret, Catherine, Mary L. and Charles V., all born at Philadelphia, and John, William and Evelyn, born at Huntsville. Robert Freeborn, father of Mrs. Hardin, was of Scotch stock, was a seafaring man and captain of a vessel.   He resided in New York City, where his children--Robert, Elizabeth and Mary--were born, but after the death of his wife removed to Philadelphia, where until his death he made his home with his daughter, Elizabeth. . . .

 

            A similar sketch of Charles Hardin’s son, Fred N. Hardin, appears in History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, (Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916), pp. 1061-1064 [“Source C”] It contains the following:

 

Philip Hardin, the fifth son of Isaiah, and the grandfather of Fred V., was born in Delaware, but removed with his parents to Philadelphia when but a small boy. . . . He died on February 5, 1878. He was an active member of the Baptist church. His widow survived him for several years; she died in April, 1887, at the home of her daughter, Margaret, in Pendleton, Indiana. His wife's maiden name was Mary Freeborn, who was born on April 22, 1808, the daughter of Robert and Mary (Ingham) Freeborn. The other children in the family of Robert and Mary Freeborn were: Elizabeth, Catherine, Margaret, Mary L., and Charles V., all born in Philadelphia; John, William and Evelyn were born in Huntsville.

 

Robert Freeborn, father of Mrs. Hardin, was of Scotch ancestry. He was a seafaring man, being captain of a vessel, and followed this vocation for the most of his active years. After the death of his wife he made his home with his daughter, Elizabeth, in Philadelphia.

 

Mrs. Mary Hardin appears as a widowed head of household in the 1880 census of Huntsville, Madison co. IN. The census indicates she was 72 (i.e., b. ca. 1807/08), born in New York; father born Scotland, mother Canada. It seems likely that in the sketch of Fred Hardin, the several children named as children of Robert and Mary (Ingham) Freeborn were, in fact, the children of Philip and Mary (Freeborn) Hardin.

 

A sketch of Reuben Milton Alfonte, youngest son of William and Elizabeth (Freeburn) Alfont, which appeared in Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Indianapolis and Vicinity (1908), does not name Elizabeth’s father, but it states that “the father of Mrs. [William] Alfont was born in Scotland, and was a seafaring man in early years, serving in the British navy.”  The next sentence says “He married Frances Davis, and in 1832 settled where the village of Alfont now stands...” and goes on to talk clearly about William Alfont [“Source D”].

 

These four sources, all secondary accounts, have areas of agreement and disagreement.  Let us outline first the areas of agreement:

 

(1)  Sources A, B and C name the father of Elizabeth (Freeburn) Alfont as Robert Freeburn/Freeborn (A explicitly, B and C implicitly).  Source D is silent on his name.

 

(2)  All four state that Robert Freeburn/Freeborn was a “seafaring man,” with D specifying that he was in the British navy and B and C suggesting that he was a ship’s captain.

 

(3) Source B suggests that Robert Freeburn/Freeborn lived in New York City, and then in Philadelphia.  B states this explictly, saying that he moved “after the death of his wife.”  Source A makes clear that his daughter Elizabeth, and one other daughter, were in Philadelphia by about 1815.  The wording is a little strange here, perhaps suggesting that Elizabeth went to live with an older sister in Philadelphia without her father?  Source B may hint at this as well, stating that Robert went to Philadelphia and “made his home with his daughter Elizabeth”; if Elizabeth went to Philadelphia when she was 10 years old, it sounds as if her father didn’t come until some time later. The 1830 census for William Alfont in Philadelphia does show an older man (age 50-60) who may be Robert Freeburn.  If Robert in fact died in Philadelphia, it was probably before the Alfonts moved to Indiana ca. 1834.

 

The primary area of conflict or disagreement among the sources is the name of Robert’s wife. Source A says Elizabeth, Sources B and C say Mary Ingham, and Source D says Frances Davis.  Source D seems generally the most problematic, since this paragraph has apparently conflated a good bit of information. For example, it seems very unlikely that Robert Freeburn ever moved to Indiana; indeed, Source B makes it clear he died in Philadelphia. Family information provided some years ago by Eugene Alfonte claimed that Frances Davis was the mother of William Alfont; and William’s probable father, John Alfont, is likely the John Alfond who married Mary Davey in Cecil co. MD in 1798. It is possible that Source D has mixed up all these relationships.  One would think that Source A was probably based on an interview with Elizabeth (Freeburn) Alfont herself, while obviously Sources B and C were based on information that was another generation or two removed from Robert Alfont.  On the other hand, Source A clearly has some problems; the statement that Elizabeth was “next to the oldest” in her family seems unlikely, based on census records (see below). She in fact seems to be “next to the  youngest.”

 

It should be noted that The Pioneers of Madison and Hancock Counties contains a sketch of Philip Hardin which states that “Mr. H. was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1810. Came when a young man to Huntsville, Indiana, and carried on wagon-making for several years. He was married about the year 1833 to MARY ALFONTE.”  It seems certain that this is incorrect, and that the writer has mixed up “Alfont” and “Freeborn”--perhaps having been told something like “Mrs. Hardin is a sister of Mrs. Alfont.”

 

The 1880 census for Madison co. IN lists Elizabeth Alfont, age 75, in the household of her son [Reuben] Milton, and indicates she was born in Pennsylvania; birthplaces of parents are left blank. The 1860 census also gives her birthplace as Pennsylvania, but the 1850 and 1870 census records give it as New York. Also in Madison co. in 1880, in Huntsville living as a widowed head of household, is Mary Hardin, 72, born in New York, father born in Scotland and mother in Canada. She also appears, with her husband, in the censuses for the several prior decades; in 1860 and 1870 her birthplace is given as New York, but in 1850 it appears to read “NC” (North Carolina? Or perhaps New York City?).

 

Another puzzling statement is that in source A that Elizabeth’s “only sister is dead.” Mary (Freeburn) Hardin had died in 1887, so she was dead at the time the article was written. But it was clear in the article that Elizabeth went “to Philadelphia to live with her sister.” That certainly sounds like she went to live with an [older] sister already living there, but Mary was younger than Elizabeth. Does the article simply mean that Elizabeth and Mary both went to live in Philadelphia? What took them there?

 

In searching primary records for Robert Freeborn, the following have been found:

 

            1800 Census of New York City, p. 133:

             Robert Freeborn:  males, 1 under 10, 1 26-45

                                          females, 1 under 10, 1 10-16, 1 26-45

 

            1800

 

1801/02 Directory of New York City: Freeborn, Robert, mariner, Lumber St.

 

8 July 1803 New York American Citizen carries list of “Letters remaining in the Post-Office, New-York, July 1, 1803” that includes Robert Freeburn.

 

            1805/06 Directory of New York City:  Freeborn, Robert, mariner, 81 Lombard St.

 

28 Apr. 1807  Court of Common Pleas, New York, records naturalization of Robert Freeburn, rigger, subject of Great Britain; rec. by Alexander Lamb, hairdresser.  From Early New York Naturalizations:  Abstracts of Naturalization Records from Federal, State and Local Courts 1792-1840 compiled by Kenneth Scott.

 

1810 Census of New York City,  p. 197:

Robert Freebourne:     males, 2 under 10, 1 10-16, 1 26-45

                                                females, 3 under 10, 1 16-26

 

1815/16 Directory of New York City:  Freeborn, Robert, waterman, 65 Cherry St.

 

1819 New York City Jury Census, Ward 4, p. 40:

            Robert Freeborn, age 49, Rigger

 

            1820 Census of New York City,  p. 139:

             Robert Freeborn:        males, 2 10-16, 1 45+

                                                females, 1 45+

 1825/26 Directory of New York City: Freeborn, Robert, rigger, 60 Cherry St.

 

There is a Philadelphia death record for one John Freeburn, d. 11 May 1826 age 50, bur. St. John’s Methodist Burial Ground. Ancestry.com lists all the records for Robert Freeburn in Philadelphia as “may also be relevant.” Familysearch.org shows the digital image of this burial record, and it is clearly “John Freeburn” (and notes he died of “intemperance”!).

 

11 Sep 1846 NY Surrogate’s Court. File includes nespaper notice:

Public Administrator’s Office, No. 25 John street. Notice is hereby given to the relatives and next of kin of Robert Freeborn, late of the city of New York, seaman on board brig Port Boon, deceased, and who is alledged to  have died intestate, that the effects of the said intestate in the hands of the Public Administroa, will be administered and disposed of by him according to law, unless the same be claimed by some lawful executor or administrator of the deceased by the tenth of August next. New York, July 9^th, 1846.  [Note: This seems unlikely to be our guy; he supposedly has moved to be Philadelphia long before this, and it appears this man actually died on board ship, so more likely a younger man.]

Comments:  It is first of all clear that if Robert Freeburn/Freeborn indeed moved from New York to Philadelphia by 1815, the last three references cannot be to him.  However, Source B states that Robert had three children, Robert, Elizabeth, and Mary. Is it possible that the later references in New York are to the younger Robert Freeborn? It is also clear that if these earlier census records belong to our Robert, there were several children in his family--perhaps as many as eight; but this contradicts Source A’s claim that Elizabeth had only one sister. 

 

On the other hand, the 1820 Robert could hardly be the son, if this man was over 45. He is apparently married, but was not married in 1810 (if they are the same man). In the 1810 census, Robert Freebourne is enumerated next to a “Widow Davis.” Is it possible that he married this widow after the death of his wife? Could that be the source of the statement in Source D that Elizabeth (Freeburn) Alfont’s father “married Frances Davis”?

 

A Margaret Freeborn married William Cobb 7 Jan. 1810 in the First Reformed Church of Philadelphia. Notice that Mary (Freeborn) Hardin named a daughter Margaret.  Could this Margaret Freeborn be an older daughter of Robert Freeburn, one of the two listed on the census of 1800? Could this have been the sister with whom Elizabeth went to live at age 10 in 1815? If so, why was she in Philadelphia?     

 

            Considering all the above, the scenario of this family might look like this: Robert Freeborn/Freeburn, b. ca. 1770, married Elizabeth or Mary Ingham ca. 1788, and had the following children:

 

            i.  daughter, b. ca. 1790, possibly Margaret who m. William Cobb. (Note: a William Cobb appears in the 1810 census of Philadelphia, North Mulberry Ward, with a wife—both of them in 16-26 age bracket—and no children [i.e., likely recently married]. The census taker kindly noted that he was a carpenter. Possibly the same couple is still in Philadelphia in the 1850 census (Spring Garden Ward 6), he listed as 65 and still a carpenter, she 60, both born Pennsylvania; several others in their household, seemingly unrelated except for a Thomas Cobb, age 24.)

 

            ii.  son, b. ca. 1794.

 

            iii.  daughter, b. ca. 1796.

 

            iv.  son,  b. ca. 1800.

 

            v.  dau., b. ca. 1802, perhaps d. young.

 

            vi.  son, possibly Robert, b. ca. 1804.

 

            vii.  Elizabeth, b. 1805, m. William Alfont.

 

            viii.  Mary, b. 1808, m. Philip Hardin.

 

Perhaps Robert’s wife died ca. 1808/09, and he remarried ca. 1812, so that by the 1820 census, only the two youngest sons were in his household, one of whom was Robert who shows up in the 1825 Directory. Perhaps about 1815, the two youngest daughters had gone to live with their married sister in Philadelphia, while the two youngest sons were still in their father’s household in 1820. Perhaps the second wife died not long after 1820, and Robert went to Philadelphia to join his daughters.

 

Another angle:

 

There appears to be a Freeburn family in Dauphin co. (Harrisburg area, so some distance from Philadelphia) that includes a Robert Freeburn, b. ca 1775 d. ca 1831, allegedly son of a Hill Freeburn and Martha Glyn. This Robert appears in the 1810 census of Dauphin co.: 2 males 26-44, 4 males under 10; 2 females 16-25, 1 female under 10. This correponds to the statement that our Elizabeth Freeburn had several brothers, but does not allow for both Elizabeth and Mary to be listed in the household.

 

In Halifax UMC Cemetery, Halifax, Dauphin co. PA there is a gravestone for Elizabeth, wife of Michael Freeburn, d. 28 Mar 1847, age 42. Findagrave.com note says she was daughter of John Meetch and Elizabeth Brubaker, and married Michael Freeburn, son of Robert Freeburn & Elizabeth Bowers. So here is apparently another Robert and Elizabeth Freeburn.  A findagrave note for [apparently] this Michael Freeburn says: “There is a bible on ebay (10/13/2011) with the name of Michael Freeburn in it. He was born May 4, 1805. Also included:

Sarah Jane Freeburn b 4/11/1815
Joseph Freeburn b 11/12/1834
Asbury E Freeburn b 5/14/1838
John M Freeburn b 10/17/1845
Lewis Bronson b 6/2/1809
Aurelia Bronson b 2/29/1812”

 

 

 

Richard O. Johnson

307 Marina View Lane

Webster, NY 14580

roj@nccn.net

530-913-9600

 

Revised 12/1/22

Enigmatic Elizabeth Elliott

 My great-great-grandmother was Frances Jane Elliott. Most of what is known of her family came originally from her son, Columbus Joseph Johnson, as recorded by his daughter Ila in the 1940s, and compiled by his son-in-law Elmer W. Thomas in the 1960s. According to Columbus, “Jane Elliott” (as he calls her; she is also listed in the Crawford co. tax records as “Mrs. Jane Johnson” so apparently was ordinarily known by her middle name) married John Johnson in Franklin co. AR 11 Dec. 1851 (and this is confirmed by Franklin co. marriage records, where she is named as Frances Jane Elliott). She was born 8 Apr. 1833 and died 27 Feb. 1868 in Arkansas, and her children were subsequently brought to California by their paternal uncle, William Johnson. Columbus also made the following remarks:

 

(1)  The Elliott family was of Welsh ancestry.

 

(2)  Frances J. Elliott’s mother’s maiden name was Booker; she (the mother) died in 1863 and is buried “on her father’s plantation.”

 

(3)  Frances J. Elliott’s grandfather Booker was a shoemaker, tanner and cotton farmer.

 

(4)  Frances J. Elliott’s father’s name is not known, but he apparently died early.

 

(5)  Frances J. Elliott had at least one brother, William Elliott [known to be William Thomas Cowan Elliott, b. ca 1829, settled in California ca. 1849 and is well known in records there].

 

Some additional information can be gleaned from U. S. census records, federal land patent records, and Franklin co. tax records.

 

In 1840 in the Franklin co. census shows an Elizabeth Elliott with the following household:

 

Female, age 30 to 40 [i.e., b. 1799-1810], no doubt Elizabeth herself

Male, age 10-15 [i.e., b. 1824-1830]

Female, age 10-15 [i.e., b. 1824-1830]

Male, age 5-10 [i.e., b. 1829-35]

Female, age 5-10 [i.e., b. 1829-35]

 

In 1850 in Franklin co. AR we find:

Elizabeth Elliott          49        female             b. VA

Francis J. Elliott          16        female             b. TN

Francis Wright            13        female             b. AR

William J. Wright       9         male                b. AR

Johnana Ragsdale       55        female             b. AR

 

And in 1860:

Eliz. Ellet                    62        female             b. VA

J. A. Ragsdale             14        female             b. AR

And in the adjacent household:

            Jn. Johnson                 31        male                b. MO

            F. J. Johnson               27        female             b. TN

            William                         7        male                b. AR

            Columbus                      4        male                b. AR

            Alfred                            1        male                b. AR

 

Certainly the F. J. Johnson in the 1860 census is my great-great-grandmother, and it seems probable that she is also the “Francis J. Elliott” in the 1850 census, and therefore that Elizabeth Elliott is her mother. The 1850 and 1860 censuses indicate that Elizabeth was born in Virginia (confirmed by the 1900 census entry for W. T. C. Elliott, which claims his mother was born in VA, father in SC). The ages differ by a few years, with the 1850 record saying Elizabeth was b. ca. 1800/01, the 1860 indicating ca. 1797/98. The 1800/01 date is more consistent with the range noted in 1840.

 

The four children listed in the 1840 census would include W. T. C. Elliott (b.  ca. 1829, so could plausibly be either the older boy, or the younger) and Frances Jane Elliott (the younger girl listed).

 

A Columbus Elliott appears in the 1858 tax list for Franklin co. He disappears from the rolls, but then a C. J. Elliott appears as a non-resident property owner in 1866-67. Could he be the other son? Note that Frances Jane (Elliott) Johnson named one of her sons Columbus.

 

An Elizabeth Elliott received a federal land patent for land in Franklin co. (or possibly just over the border in Crawford co.) in 1843. This is likely she. An Elizabeth Elliott (variously spelled Eliott, Elliott, Elliot, Eliot) appears on Franklin co. tax records beginning in 1846; she last appears in 1861 (but that is the last extant record until 1866, when she does not appear). Columbus Johnson claimed she died in 1863; no contemporary records have been found to confirm this, but one whimsical record may support it: the Van Buren Press of 3 March 1866, which paper probably served the Franklin co. area (though located in neighboring Crawford co.), listed Elizabeth Elliott as among those for whom a letter was sitting unclaimed as of 28 Feb. at the Van Buren post office. [Evelyn Sue Williams, Abstracts from Crawford county, Ark., Newspapers (Nov. 1994)]

 

The hypothesis that emerges from all these records is that Elizabeth Booker, born in Virginia, married Mr. Elliott, and that they lived for the early part of their marriage in Tennessee (where the above records for Frances Jane, and consistent records for W. T. C.  Elliott, indicate they both were born, he ca. 1829 and she ca. 1833). The father Elliott apparently died either before Elizabeth came to Arkansas, or shortly after, and in any event was dead by the time of the 1840 census. Elizabeth Elliott does not appear in the census records after 1860, and of course Columbus said that she died in1863.

 

Ragsdale

Who are the persons named “Ragsdale” in these census records? The family tradition doesn’t mention this name, but Columbus mentioned several sisters of his father—a list which, while essentially correct, conflates some names and includes one who was not a sister but a cousin. Included in the list is one who has not been identified in conjunction with the (rather complete) records of the Johnson family, a “Mrs. Raglyn,” who, he said, “lived and died in the East” (which presumably just means she didn’t come to California). Is it possible that he had the name and relationship slightly wrong, and that her name was Ragsdale and she was a sister of his mother? Whether that rather speculative idea is true or not, the presence in two different census years of a Ragsdale in Elizabeth Elliott’s household suggests a close connection. But who were they?

 

It is probable that the 1850 census listing for “Johnana Ragsdale” is mistaken in the age; it is highly unlikely that she could have been born in Arkansas in 1795. More likely she was not 55, but 5, and is the same person enumerated in Elizabeth’s household in 1860, J. A. Ragsdale age 14.

 

A biographical sketch (reprinted below) of one Wesley Hinson [Henson] of Crawford co. AR states that he married a Johanna Ragsdale, daughter of George and Hester Ann Ragsdale. It also states that Johanna’s mother died when she was “but a girl.” Was Hester Ann Ragsdale a daughter of Elizabeth Elliott? Was her young daughter sent to live with “Grandma” after the death of her mother? It is interesting to note that W. T. C. Elliott named one of his children Hester—perhaps after his deceased sister?

 

There is a Confederate pension recorded for Wesley Henson and then for Johanna Henson as his widow. It actually is under the name of John W. Forney (alias for Wesley Henson), and service is listed in Co. D, 13 Pa Cav. Invalid pension for him filed 2 Aug 1890 [application #820357]; widow’s pension for Johanna C. Henson filed 6 Nov 1893 [application# 585263]. Filed in Arkansas. Henson died 19 Oct 1893. His will, filed in Crawford co. AR, gives ““my wife John Anna Caroline Henson all of my household and kitchen furniture and all of the residue of my estate real and personal as long as she remains my widow.” After her death the estate is to pass to his brothers, sisters, and nephew, suggesting that he had no living children.

 

She is possibly the Annie Henson in Fort Smith Ward 5, Sebastian co., p. 1 of Enumeration District: 0132 in the 1900 census. Fort Smith is right across the river from Van Buren, Crawford co. She appears as widowed, b. April 1845, no children. She is possibly the Anna C. Hansen in Crawford co., Maxey twp., p. 3A  of ED 0011, widowed, b. Ark., parents born KY and TN, no children.

 

Johann[a] Henson appears in the 1920 census for Mulberry, Crawford co. AR, widowed, age 74, b. Ark., father b. Alabama, mother b. Tennessee. She is likely the Anna C. Hinson, 84, b. AR, in Mulberry, Crawford co. in 1930 (father b. Ky, mother b. Tenn.). The death certificate for Joe Anna Henson is recorded in Crawford co. AR, widow of Wesley Henson, 91 years, 6 mos., 29 days, d. 25 Dec 1936, parents and birthplace blank. Her calculated birthdate would be 26 May 1845.

 

What can we say about this George Ragsdale? A query from a Mrs. J. R. Bush published in the Apr/May/June 1969 issue of The Arkansas Family Historian (7:2), p. 68, stated that George Ragsdale, son of Peter and Matilda Ragsdale, was b. 1822 MS, and “was a widower in 1860 census of Crawford Co., with two sons, Peter, 5, and Enos, 3.”  She also indicated that other children of the elder Peter Ragsdale included James (m. Patsy Benton and Mary Hale or Hail; he and his first wife Patsy appear in the 1850 census of Franklin co. AR two households away from Elizabeth Elliott), Sarah (m. Dosier Fussell), and Susan, m. Luna Booth. She also indicated that the Ragsdale family lived at different times in TN, AL, MS and MO before coming to Crawford co. AR in 1837. These census records seem to be of him:

 

1850 Crawford co. Bates twp. AR p. 281  #5/5

Household of Luna and Susan [Ragsdale] Booth, George’s sister and brother-in-law:

Luna A. Booth                        29        TN

Susan B. P. E. L. Booth          25        MS

Matilda E.                                 7        AR

Hiram L.                                   5        AR

George P.                                  2        AR

Eliza V.                                   9/12     AR

Matilda Ragsdale                    61        KY

George W. “                           28        MS

Sarah C. Fussell                      16        AL [Is this Susan’s sister, already widowed at 16?]

 

1860 Crawford co., Lafayette twp AR p. 691 620/604

Geo. Ragsdale            34        Farmer           AL

Peter                              5                                AR

Enos                              3                                AR

Mary M. Teston          60                                NC

Sharlott Fussell           25                                NC

Adam Genes                 7                                AR

 

1870 Crawford co. Lafayette twp AR p. 202 95/95

G. W. Ragsdale         48        Farm Lab       MS

N.C.                            19        KH                  AR

E.B.                             13                                AR

M.A.                              1                                AR

 

1880 Washington co. AR Illinois twp. ED 202 p. 42 #400/418

Ragsdale, George      63                    Carpenter      MS  VA  KY

            Nancy              29      wife                               AR  GA  GA

            Martha            11     dau                                 AR  MS  AR

            George               9     son                                 AR  MS  AR

            Maggie              2    dau                                  AR  MS  AR

 

1895 State census of Kansas, Cherokee co, Baxter Springs image 144

Ragsdale, P.    48  mw b. AR             Miner              [George’s son Peter]

            G. W.  70  mw  b. Miss.        Carpenter

            M.       35  fw  b. AR                                      [Peter’s wife Mary Ellen/Elizabeth]

            Frank  15  mw  b. MO                                    [Peter’s children]

            Sophia 12  fw   b. KS

            B.        10  fw  b. MO

            Eddie    4  mw  b. MO

            Bulah   2  fw   b. KS

 

1900 US census Kansas, Cherokee co. Empire City Dct. 18 image 45

Ragsdale, Mary[?]   head  wf  May 1863  37  mar. 22  8/6  MO AR  AR   Keeping boarders

            Frank            son    wm Feb 1880   20  sing                MO AR MO    Teamster

            Sopha           dau   wf  Feb 1883  17   sing                 KS AR MO

            Barbra        dau.   wf   Feb. 1885 15   sing                KS AR MO

            Eddie            son   wm   Mar 1891  9  sing                 KS AR MO

            Bula          dau      wf    Jul 1892    7   sing                 KS AR MO

            Sarah         dau      wf    Jul 1895    4   sing                 KS AR MO

           

 

Assuming these George Ragsdales are all the same person, and assuming he is also the father of Johnana/Johanna Ragsdale, it would appear that George was married at least three times: first to Hester Ann [Elliott?], probably about 1843, with one daughter Johnana/Johanna, Hester dying prior to 1850, when George appears single in his sister’s household]; then to an unnamed woman by whom he had Peter and Enos, and who apparently died before 1860; and then to Nancy, ca. 1867, by whom he had Martha, George and Maggie.  [Enos is apparently Enos Benjamin Ragsdale, d. 25 Mar 1935, bur. Sons Chapel Cem., Fayetteville, AR, m. Tennessee Cullender https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/24599465/person/1934044204/facts; Peter is apparently Peter Jackson Ragsdale, m. Mary Ellen Roberts in Jasper co. MO 12 Aug 1877, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/103413011/person/150027171172/facts; marriage record gives her name as Elizabeth Roberts; she subsequently married T. F. Merrill.]

 

 

Wright

Also appearing in 1850 with Elizabeth Elliott are two Wright children; could they also be grandchildren, or perhaps a niece and nephew of Elizabeth (Booker) Elliott? If grandchildren, it would mean that Elizabeth had a daughter who was already out of her household (and presumably married) at the time of the 1840 census. There is no listing for a Wright in Franklin co. in 1840, but there is a R. J. Wright in adjacent Crawford co., and his household consisted of a male and female 20-30 (i.e., b. 1810-20), and a male and female under 5. If those ages are correct, the woman could be just barely young enough to be a daughter of Elizabeth Elliott, and the children could plausibly be the Frances and William Wright in the census.

 

I have not identified either of these children after the 1850 census, but a William Wright, age 19 born Arkansas, died in Carroll Par. LA in 1860 (census mortality schedule).

 

It is interesting to note that a few households away from R. L. Wright we find an Amos Elliott, in the same age bracket. Could he be a son of Elizabeth Elliott? (A. A. Elliott is listed on tax rolls in 1855 and 1857.)

 

We might hypothesize, then, that Elizabeth (Booker) b. VA married Mr. Elliott, possibly in TN, and had the following children:

 

(1)  Hester Ann Elliott, b. TN ca. 1827 m. George Ragsdale

(2)  William Thomas Cowan Elliott, b. TN Sep 1829 m(1) Susan Sides

(3)  Son, b. ca. 1831, likely died or removed bf. 1850; possibly Columbus Elliott or Amos Elliott? (But note that Amos and Columbus Elliott appear as brothers in 1850 census of Johnson co. AR, sons of a Nancy Elliott, a family which seems to have come from Illinois)

(4)  Frances Jane Elliott, b. TN 8 Apr 1833 m. John Johnson

 

And possibly an older daughter b. ca. 1820 married [R. J.?] Wright.

Top ten mysteries; it's a long game!

 

My top ten genealogical mysteries

 Back in 2013, I compiled a list of my “top ten genealogical mysteries.” I decided it would be interesting to see how I’ve done in a bit more than eight years toward solving them. Here’s the original list, with a status report:

(1)   Whatever happened to John Hastings? My third-great-grandfather appears in the 1850 census of Marion co. IN, and then disappears. The family story (not from my direct family, but from a much older distant cousin with whom I corresponded some years ago) is that his wife, Mary Ann (Wheeler) Hastings, died in 1852, and that John left and was never heard from again. This cousin said she always had the sense that he had abandoned his family, but she wondered if perhaps he had gone in search of land or some better opportunity, and then something happened to him and his family was never notified. In any event, in the 1860 census his younger children were “farmed out” to relatives. A couple of them lived with their oldest brother, my great-great-grandfather Oliver Perry Hastings; a couple more lived with their uncle Harvey Wheeler. So obviously John was “gone” by that time (maybe dead, maybe disappeared). What ever became of John Hastings?

 

PARTIALLY SOLVED: I’ve learned that John actually moved to Shelby co. IL, where he appears in the state census there in 1855. There is a John Hastings who is buried in Shelby co., died 1868, age 68, which would make him the right age to be “my” John Hastings; but why can’t I find him in the 1860 census.

 

(2)   What was John L. Johnson’s war record? My great-great-grandfather fought for the Confederate army. A resident of Franklin and/or Crawford co. AR, he never returned from the war. Family tradition is that he died in Texas, “on the Red River,” as he was returning from Arkansas after the war. Some years ago a descendant of his brother William T. Barry Johnson told me that his grandfather possessed an old cannon ball or shell of some kind that had resulted in his brother losing his foot as he was returning home from the war. I have tried for years to find John L. Johnson’s civil war service record, but without success. I’ve looked at service records for various other men who were his neighbors in Arkansas, trying to get clues as to what unit he might have served in. My assumption is that it would be a unit that served on the Western front, since he allegedly died in Texas, and there were some Northwest Arkansas units that did serve in Texas. But I’ve not been able to find any with a John Johnson who seems to be my ancestor. Where did he serve, and how did he die?

 

NO PROGRESS

 

(3)   Who was August Anderson’s father? My great-grandfather, born Per Gustaf Anderson in Nykil, Östergötland, Sweden, was an out-of-wedlock child. The family story is that his mother and her family were tenant farmers, and his biological father was the “son of the landowner”—one of those stories that may or may not have some basis in fact! As he grew, he was the “spittin’ image” of his biological father, and when he was 10 the paternal grandparents paid the maternal grandparents to take him to America and eliminate the embarrassment. I’ve inspected the Swedish parish records, thinking there might be some clue as to his parentage—especially since it seemed to be “known” in the community. But I’ve found nothing. Who was his father?

 

POTENTIALLY SOLVED: DNA tests have pointed to Carl Linder as August’s probable father. I have DNA matches with several of his descendants, through more than one of his children. He lived in Nykil, the same parish where August was born. I need to brush up on how to use DNA tools effectively, but this seems like an extremely likely and promising possibility.

 

(4)   When did August Anderson come to America, and where did he land? The story about him being brought by his grandparents seems to be confirmed by the fact that the boy and his grandparents are listed in the Swedish parish records as leaving for North America in 1870, but I’ve not found any records indicating their arrival in America. My great-aunt said there was a connection to Pennsylvania before they settled in Nebraska; does that just mean perhaps they landed in Philadelphia rather than New York? I really want to find their immigration records.

 

NO PROGRESS

 

(5)   Who was Frances (Elliott) Johnson’s father? My great-great-grandmother was Frances Jane Elliott who married John L. Johnson. The records suggest that her mother was Elizabeth Elliott, and family tradition says that Elizabeth’s maiden name was Booker. But who was Elizabeth’s husband? She seems to have been unmarried (presumably widowed) fairly early, as she is a landowner in Franklin co. AR and appears in the 1840 census under her own name. Who was Mr. Elliott, and what became of him?

 

NO PROGRESS, though some great progress on identifying another previously unknown daughter of Elizabeth.

 

(6)   When and where did Peter Likins and Mary Alfont marry? My great-great-grandparents were married about 1848, according to the 1900 census. But where, and precisely when? I think it is quite likely that they were married in Madison co. IN, and unfortunately one of those courthouse fires destroyed the marriage records from that period. Can I ever find confirmation of that, and perhaps some indication of the actual date?

 

NO PROGRESS

 

(7)   What became of cousin Bobby? My grandmother’s first cousin, Robert George “Bobby” Jones, moved, according to my grandmother, from Indiana to Florida, where he became a gem cutter. I have found a Bob Jones in the 1935 state census of Dade co. who is listed as a jeweler, and then another listing in the 1940 census. He is single in both listings. But then the trail goes cold. What became of him? Did he ever marry and have children?

 

PROBLEM SOLVED! I’m now convinced that my grandmother had his name slightly wrong. She claimed he was named “Robert George” for his two twin uncles, but there is a Robert Likins Jones who died in Miami, Dade co. 3 Sep 1960 and I’m pretty confident that this is he. Apparently he married one Mary Beatrice Collins, but seems to have had no children.

 

(8)   Where did Jason Wheeler come from? My 3^rd-great-grandfather, Jason Wheeler, was born in 1765. He seems to have raised his family in Herkimer co. and Chenango co. NY, and then settled in Marion co. IN, where he died. But where was he born? I suspect that he came from Vermont, where there seem to be a lot of Wheelers; but I haven’t found anything that definitively ties him to Vermont. Is that, in fact, where he was born? If not, where?

 

NO PROGRESS, but this is on my radar screen to research now that we’re living in New York State. A trip to Herkimer and Chenango counties is in my future.

 

(9)   What became of Joseph Street? My third-great-grandfather Joseph Street was born in VA ca 1782, and then followed a common westward trek to North Carolina, Tennessee, and finally Arkansas. His wife, Margaret (Carmichael) Street, and one of their sons, Thomas Street, are buried in Madison co. AR. An old genealogy of the Street family suggests that Joseph emigrated to Oregon and died there, but I have found no record of him after the early 1850s in Madison county. Did he really go to Oregon? When and where did he die?

 

SOME PROGRESS. I haven’t found when and where he died, but I’ve made good progress on a couple of previously mysterious children of this couple, which may ultimately lead to figuring out where Joseph died. I do also now know that he was living as late as 1860, when he sold his land in Madison county.

 

(10) What happened to the other Hastings children? In the family of my 3^rd-great-grandparents, John and Mary Ann (Wheeler) Hastings, in 1850 there are nine children. I’ve worked hard at tracing them, but there are still some holes. There is a “Wesley Hastings” listed, though the census says this was a girl; and a boy William Hastings, and a girl Almira Hastings. None of these have I found after 1850. Then there is James H. Hastings; I have followed him a good ways, and I know he married Amanda Meyer in Polk co. OR in 1872. But in the 1900 census, he is not living in the household with Amanda and their children, yet she is still listed as “married.” The 1910 census shows the same thing. Then in 1920 and 1930, Amanda is listed as “widowed.” No sight of James after 1880. What became of him?

 

MOSTLY SOLVED. I’ve found John Wesley Hastings—he moved with his father to Shelby co. IL (see #1 above), married and raised his family in Illinois. I am pretty convinced that daughter Almira is the Elmira Hastings who married Benjamin Shingle (Shinkle) and then apparently died soon after, perhaps in childbirth. William is still a mystery. Another daughter, Melissa, who also seems to have gone to Shelby co. IL, has been well followed. I still haven’t found when and where James died.

 

Not bad! We make progress slowly.