Week 21 #52Ancestors: Military

I have to dig further back to find those who served given that none of my direct Sutton line served in the military.  Since I have previously discussed two ancestors’ military service, I have chosen Drury (aka Drewry) Lawson for this week’s topic.  Drury is my 4^thgreat-grandfather born ca 1761 in Halifax County, Virginia.  He seems to be one of my more popular ancestors so keep reading to discover why.  Thanks to Gary Lloyd’s research and his book, Thomas and Mary Ann (Morgan) Lawson of Tennessee, Iowa and Missouri and Their Descendants, we have been provided with some details of Drury’s life. 

Drury's timeline from Gary Lloyd's book

Beginning with August of 1777 in the Halifax County, Virginia Court, Drury Lawson son of Mary Owens was bound out to Thomas Parrott at the age of 16 years old so Drury was an indentured servant.  A theory is Drury’s mother may have become widowed for a second time and was unable to care for him.  The practice offered an opportunity for minor children to learn a trade and the adult would provide keep in return for work performed.  Given that his mother was an Owens, it seems plausible that Drury’s father died and she remarried.  No one has been able to determine who his father was but past research places several male Lawsons in Halifax County, VA who were officers in the Colonial Militia during and after the French and Indian War (1754-1763). The Lawson DNA Project has determined that Drury’s Y-DNA matches to the Falling River Lawsons.  This is a group of Lawsons who lived in the Lunenburg/Bedford Counties of Virginia.

It was my hope to submit a DAR application based on Drury’s service but his application was denied.   According to Drury’s Revolutionary Pension application in 1835, he entered the service of the United States as a substitute for William Hooker of Henry County, Virginia in the spring of 1780 and served for three months.  An interesting side note is another Lawson association was found in William Hooker’s pension application as his wife, Jerusia Hooker’s maiden name was Lawson. There is speculation that Jerusia and Drury were related.  At any rate, he received a furlough and the following year was called on for a tour of duty as a militiaman.  His unit moved towards Camden, South Carolina and he became ill on the way so his unit left him and continued on.  He was taken to a relative’s home in North Carolina (perhaps Jerusia’s home) where he stayed four to five months and never received a discharge from the military.  Drury stated that his next service was against the Indians on the northwest frontier as a substitute for David Taylor in Virginia. No records exist of his military service except his pension application that was denied because he did not serve for six months.  He did have two acquaintances testify on his half as to his character for veracity and belief of his services and they were Vardy Collins and Morgan Collins.  Those of you who are familiar with Newman’s Ridge connections know that Vardy has been called the “patriarch of the Melungeons.”

Why is Drury popular? There are many discussions regarding his ethnicity given that several Lawson descendants and a couple of Sutton descendants applied in 1906 for a share of Eastern Cherokee funds awarded by the Court of Claims in 1905.  All these claims were denied.  The story submitted on Drury was he was the half-brother of Robert Benge or Chief Benge the notorious mixed-blood son of a Cherokee woman and a Scots-Irish trader named John Benge.  Benge was most likely related to George Guess who is best known as Sequoyah. Benge raided the westernmost counties of Virginia and was killed on April 6, 1794 in Wise County, Virginia. Credit for killing Benge went to Vincent Hobbs, Jr. a son of one of the original white settlers of current Lee County, Virginia (see Wikipedia page on Bob Benge).  I always say that stories handed down to us have some kernel of truth and my theory is perhaps Drury talked of hunting Benge or perhaps he would admonish his children by saying “if you don’t watch out, Captain Benge will get you” (a popular saying in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee). 

Drury’s will dated September 18, 1847 and filed in Claiborne County, Tennessee:

In the name of God Amen, I Drury Lawson of the County of Claiborne in the State of Tennessee being of a sound mind and memory and desirous while in such a condition to make my last will and Testament, do make and publish this my only and last will.  1^st- I wish first that all my just debts if any owning at the time of my death as well as my funeral expenses paid as soon as possible out of what money I may have on hands at my death, and out of such as may be then owing to me.  2^nd- My will and desire is that if my beloved wife Hannah should survive me that she shall have the use and possession of all my estate, my personal property for an during her natural life.   3^rd- the death of my wife if she should out live me, this my wish and desire that my whole estate be given Thomas Lawson my son as I wish him to take care of his mother.

I will David Lawson my gun and William Lawson one dollar and one dollar to Hannah Sutton this is my last will and testament given under my hand and seal this 18 day of September 1847.

Signed Drewry (X) Lawson my mark

Attest

William Riley

Levi Nun

William Lawson

The 1850 Claiborne County census finds Hannah Lawson (nee Potts) living in the household of my third great-grandparents, Thomas and Hannah (nee Lawson) Sutton. His son, Thomas, had moved to Iowa by this time.  A marker has been created to honor his US Army Revolutionary War service and was placed in the Lawson Family Cemetery in Sneedville, Tennessee. Thank you for your service.

Week 20 #52Ancestors: Nature

Meet Matilda Sutton Rowe

Matilda “Tilda” Sutton is my 1^stcousin 3x’s removed.  Some of the documents that involve her lead me to believe she was a feisty woman.  In fact, Tilda may have raised a few eyebrows.  She was the youngest child of Isham Sutton and Mary “Polly” Barnard and was born in Hancock County, Tennessee just after the Civil War had ended in 1866.  Her first husband was James Wiley Rowe, Jr. and the marriage ended in divorce. Filed on July 20, 1889, I have transcribed a portion of the handwritten paperwork:

To the Honorable John P. Smith Chancellor holding the chancery court at Sneedville Tennessee.  Humbly complaining showeth your Honor your Oratrix Matilda Roe a citizen of Hancock County in said state that some ten or more years ago she intermarried in said county with one Wiley Roe, Jr. and has lived and cohabitated with him as his wife ever since that time until about the 3^rdday of the present month July 1889.  

Some twelve months ago the said Wiley found an attachment for one Nancy Griffin and was guilty of repeated acts of adultery with her but by the persuasion of friends and your Oratrix being in feeble health, she was induced to condone the offence and continued to live with him until the time above mentioned and further causes herein after mentioned refused to live with him any longer.

Some time about the day of June past in said county he was guilty of adultery with one Laura Odle as your Oratrix is informed and believes such since that time has been guilty of repeated acts of adultery with the said Laura and other persons so she is now informed and believes.

Your Oratrix further shows that sometime before the said third day of June he began to neglect his matters at home and to stay away two or three days at a time and when he would come home would be crabit and abusive to her and his children and would not remain but a short time until he would go again and is now entirely neglecting his matters at home not even taking care of his small grain which is now straw fallen in the field.

The said Wiley has considerable property both personal and real.  He has a farm lying in the 7^thDistrict of said County adjoining the lands of Isham Sutton, Elijah Epperson, Joshua Davis and others worth about eight hundred dollars; two yoke of work cattle, a wagon, two by chains, a mare and colt, one eighth interest in an eight horse improved threashing machine, two milk cans, two head of young cattle, sixteen head of stock hogs, eight head of sheep, a sewing machine and stove and other household and kitchen furniture – the most of which household and kitchen furniture including the stove and sewing machine was given to your Oratrix by her father and a growing crop of corn and oats on said land and perhaps other personal property including three stands of bees and some farming implements etc.

Your Oratrix by her marriage to the said Wiley has five children viz. Emily, Iola, Cordie, Catharine and Tilman aged respectively seven years, five years, four years, two years and six months and from the immoral habits and bad character of the said Wiley he is unfit to have the care custody control and training of them.

The said Wiley avows his intention of disposing of said property, and is now engaged in trying to dispose of the same so as to defeat any claim your Oratrix may have thereon for alimony.

The penniless considered complainant prays that the said Wiley Roe Jr. who is also a citizen of said county be made a party defendant to this bill and be required to answer the same fully but not on each that an injunction issue to restrain him from selling or in any way disposing of said property or any part thereof until the function allows of this court; that at the hearing a decree be rendered forever dissolving the bonds of matrimony subsisting between her and her said husband, that the care custody and control of said children be decreed her, that a reasonable portion of said property including the homestead in said soul property both soul and personal be decreed her as alimony, and for general relief.

This is the first application for an injunction in this case.

Coleman & Coleman

It appears that the divorce was granted and Matilda was to receive about $10 per month in alimony and the legal fees of $2,000 were also to be paid by her former husband.  I was amazed to see this type of settlement in 1889.

There is more to discover on Matilda as an article was shared with me regarding a moonshine still found on her farm in 1921 and I’m thinking this didn’t sit well with her father also mentioned in the article as “Uncle Isham Sutton.”

Published in The Sneedville News, May 27, 1921

Curiosity got the best of me so I perused some of the microfilmed records for Hancock County in hopes of finding more information on the still.  What I discovered is a lawsuit filed in 1925 by Matilda and her family against Isham Sutton to prohibit him from removing timber from the property she inherited from him and her mother, Mary “Polly” Barnard (deceased).  She won.

From the Hancock County, TN Catalog on Familysearch.org

Matilda Sutton Rowe died on March 27, 1937 in Hancock County, Tennessee at the age of 70 years old and is buried in the Sutton-Manning Cemetery near her father, Isham Sutton.  Hopefully, they made amends. I believe Tilda fit the "Nature" theme well given her feisty character combined with life on a farm, and fighting to stop the timber removal from her property.  Rest in peace, cousin.

Week 19 #52Ancestors: Nurture

Allie Jane Epperson was my great-grandmother and I often wish we could have met because as I review her life I have much admiration for her.  This was a woman who experienced a traumatic childhood with the Epperson family tragedy leaving nine-year old Allie and, her siblings, orphans in 1878.  By April 11, 1886, Allie was united in marriage to Noah Sutton and gave birth to Malissa Jane “Lissie” Sutton the following year. Another tragedy would happen in 1891 when her first cousin, John Barnard, would become a victim of the Sutton-Barnard Family Feud.  That same year Allie gave birth to her first son, Lewis Henry Sutton (my grandfather) and they would leave Tennessee soon thereafter.  More heartache followed as she gave birth to four children who died either in infancy or as toddlers.  What emerged through these struggles was a lady of strong Christian faith who loved and nurtured her family.

Allie at her home in Fannin County, Texas

I often wonder who Allie turned to for “motherly advice” when she moved so far away from her Tennessee home to Fannin County, Texas.  She was 24 years old and had two small children when she arrived there around 1893.  Another daughter, Laura Emeline, was born in 1894.  The Texas home was filled with photographs. An organ was purchased at some point so I like to think music was an important way to relax and enjoy some family time.  Perhaps many hymns were played on that organ and I wonder if any of her children attempted to play this instrument.  The 1900 census shows Noah and Allie living in Precinct 7, district 80 Fannin County with their three children but I also noticed the number of children she had given birth to was seven and only the three were living.  However, by March 1901 another daughter was born named Jessie Lorn. 

Sutton Family Photo circa 1894

In 1905 Lissie married Clarence “Pete” Henderson and Allie would become a grandmother by December of that year when Zola Mae Henderson was born.   Just a few months later, in April 1906, Allie would give birth to another son nicknamed Jack and he would complete her children.  I believe she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren although the camera never caught a smile (maybe a slight one) when she was photographed.

Left to right adults:  Clarence Henderson, Lissie Sutton Henderson, Noah Sutton, Allie Epperson Sutton, 

Left to right children:  Ethel, Zola Mae, and possibly Don Henderson, Jessie, Jack Sutton and Laura Sutton.

Since Allie most likely wasn’t proficient in reading and writing (also noted on the censuses), I like to think of her providing guidance to her family and perhaps she taught the little women in her life quilting, gardening, and cooking.  Not to say that the men didn’t also enjoy some of these hobbies as well!

Allie with granddaughter Zola Mae Henderson

As we approach 1920, Lissie would give birth to three more children (Ethel, Don and Ray).  Little Don would die sometime before 1920. Lissie and Clarence move to Denison, Texas.  Laura married Paul Jones “PJ” Helton (my father is named after him) and Lewis would marry Trentie Alice Leonard.  Her youngest daughter, Jessie, would marry James Chester Kelley in 1923 and move away to Ranger, Texas.  At some point her sister, Laura, would also move to Ranger after breaking up with P.J. Helton.  By 1930, Allie would have 8 grandchildren.   Palmer Ray, born to Jessie and Doyle Lewis, Nina Mahala, Paul Jones (my dad) and granddaughter, Myrtle Alice, born to Lewis.  Lewis and Trentie also decided to leave Fannin County, Texas and made their new home in Wolf, Oklahoma.  Now all but one child, Jack, had married and moved away.  I suspect she didn't get to see her grandchildren as often as she would have liked.

Appears to be a family outing perhaps at the Red River

Left to right adults: Noah Sutton, Laura Sutton Helton, Allie Jane Sutton, Lewis Sutton, Trentie Sutton, and Jack Sutton

Left to right children: Doyle, Nina, and Paul Sutton

The thirties would bring joy and great sorrow.  Two more grandchildren would bless Lewis’ household – Dorothy Jean “Dottie” and Donald Ray.  Allie also became a great-grandmother in 1932 when granddaughter Ethel gave birth to a son, Clarence Ray “Sonny” Broyles.  Her daughter, Laura, would marry William Ray Todd and become a stepmother to his five children from a previous marriage.

Clarence Ray "Sonny" Broyles and mother Ethel, Allie Jane Sutton, Lissie Henderson, and Zola Mae Henderson

Allie getting a hug from Zola Mae Henderson (is that a slight smile on her face?)

Noah Sutton, Lissie Henderson, and Allie Sutton

Tragedy struck on November 19, 1935 when Lewis was killed in an oilfield accident.  Allie would cross over almost three-months later:

 Mrs. Allie Jane Sutton died of pneumonia at her home near Lamasco February 7, 1936. She professed faith in her Master at the age of 14 years and joined the Baptist church.  She was a woman of true Christian character and lived a life of faithfulness to her Master and Maker at all times.  Two daughters were unable to reach her bedside before she passed away.  Deceased was born on January 6, 1869 at Sneedville, Tenn.  On April 11, 1886, she was married to Noah Sutton, to this union nine children were born.  Only four survive, three girls and one boy, as follows: Mrs. C.H. Henderson of Denison; Mrs. Ray Todd and Mrs. Chester Kelley of Ranger and Alva Sutton of near Lamasco. Ten grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and one great grandchild.  Funeral services were held at the Lamasco Baptist Church at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, February 9, conducted by Rev. Oliver Rowe.  The body was laid to rest in the Lamasco Cemetery.  The family has the sympathy of the entire community in their great loss of a companion and loving mother.

I can imagine her death brought great sadness to everyone but especially Noah and Jack.  I want to thank Susie Kelley Clarke for sharing these great photos with me as it brings Allie back in our thoughts and hearts.  Happy heavenly Mother's Day, Allie! 

Week 18 #52 Ancestors: Road Trip

The Watkins Reunion and Research in Nashville

Thinking back over the few trips I have taken to research genealogy has brought to mind one that combined research on my maternal and paternal side.  My sister, Cheryl Noble, and I headed to Bono, Arkansas for the Watkins Reunion in August 2017 and then to Nashville, Tennessee to do some research.  As the date for the reunion grew closer, we discovered that a major heavenly event would take place on August 21, 2017 dubbed the “Great American Eclipse” and Nashville would be a prime location to experience this. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage was selected to enjoy the event. Many people had the same idea – spend the day touring a lovely historic mansion with beautifully landscaped grounds and experience this two-minute astronomical gift!  

Andrew Jackson Hermitage - ushistoryimages.com

The following day was spent at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.  It was a bit disappointing as there isn’t a wealth of documents on Hancock County, Tennessee but there are microfilm rolls of old court documents still waiting to be discovered.  I didn’t walk away empty handed as I did find some documents on the Epperson’s that I have previously discussed. 

Tennessee State Library and Archives

While collaborating with fellow researcher, Connie Shelton a Tennessee Supreme Court document was found on the Archives’ website that I decided to purchase: Claibourne Walker & others Vs Archibald McCoy & wife filed September 14, 1859.  The case summary from the website:

Plaintiff admr of mother-in-law Jane Epperson, dec. Additional plaintiffs: wife Hester, formerly Epperson, and ten other heirs and distributors of Jane Epperson. Widow Epperson lived next to defendant, also her son-in-law, died testate in 1857. Plaintiffs claim defendant fraudulently came by deed of valuable tract of land J. Epperson had owned in Hancock Co., having paid $500, not half the value of said tract. Defendant claims this arrangement was due them for care and support of the old widow; 43 pages.

How are Claibourne Walker and Archibald McCoy related to the Eppersons?  Claibourne was a grandson of John Walker who was Jane Walker Epperson’s father.  Jane was the wife of Joseph Epperson and they are my 4^thgreat-grandparents (Nelson Epperson’s grandparents).  Claibourne was a nephew and son-in-law to Jane Walker Epperson (he married Hester Epperson) and was the administrator of Jane’s estate.  As stated above, Archibald McCoy was also a son-in-law to Jane (he married Margaret “Peggy” Epperson).  Hope that’s not too confusing!  The other heirs mentioned in the document are:

John A. Walker and wife Polly formerly Polly Epperson and Nancy Bowman; Hawkins County; Calvin Epperson and Elizabeth Allen Grainger County; Thomas Epperson, Nelson Epperson, Jane Allen, and Martin Hipshear & his wife Phany all children of John Epperson who departed this life sometime before his mother…all reside in the County of Grainger except Elizabeth Allen who resides in Hancock County Thomas Epperson in Missouri Nelson Epperson in the County of Claibourne Tennessee…. Note that there is an error in this document as John Epperson’s daughter is not Elizabeth Jane Epperson as her name was Emily Jane Epperson.

The complaint against the McCoy’s:  

Jane Epperson departed this life in the said County of Hawkins in January 1857, intestate, & complainant Claibourne Walker has been duly qualified as her Administrator in the said County of Hawkins.  That previous to her death the said Jane was a widow for many years that she lived to be nearly eighty years of age & for many years preceding her death she was very frail and lived near to Archibald McCoy who married a daughter of the said Jane who was the owner of a valuable tract of land in the said County of Hancock upon obtaining which the said McCoy fixed his heart and about three years ago by various fraudulent practices and representations & promises, and through the artful contrivances and aid of one Shadrack Epperson the Jane was persuaded to make a deed to the said McCoy under the persuasion of the said McCoy & his wife aided by the said Shadrack Epperson & thus to put everything that she owned – land and all into the hands of the said McCoy & for his sole benefit & that his family one of tenants used was to express in the deed a consideration of Five hundred dollars not half of the value of the lands and then to pay on rather hand over to the said Jane, the said Sum of immediately to take the money again to give no note, obligation or receipt for the same to persuade the said Jane to abandon her house, sell her personal property and go to the house of the said McCoy.  This plan was carried out to the letter the pretended deed for the land was signed, the $500 put in the hands of a feeble & weak minded woman of near eighty years of age, and then instantly to take the money back from her as they could take a toy from a child, the said Jane being thus stripped of property & having been prevailed on to disinherit her other children & grandchildren, was taken to the house of the said McCoy and keep there until they became tired of and unkind to her, and she from their unkind & heartless treatment was tired of them, was compelled in her old age and utter destitution to seek shelter & protection under the roof of complainant Claibourne Walker & wife where she was protected & cherished up to the time of her death. Complainants further state that the said McCoy is otherwise largely indebted to the estate of the said Jane Epperson for which he should be held liable.

Complainants further state that from the time of the execution of said pretended deeds for the land that the said McCoy has been in possession & the receipts of the rents & profits of the same and has also kept in his hands other effects of the said Jane.  This was done by inducing the said Jane to impose a misplaced confidence in the said McCoy greatly to the injury of the Complainants & to the ruin of the estate of the said Jane.

Archibald McCoy’s rebuttal to the complaint stated he paid Jane $500 for 100 acres and it wasn’t done in a fraudulent or forceful way.  He stated that Jane did live with his family for two or three years but she was not driven away but she was displeased with some of their children. He believed she was persuaded to leave by some of the complainants and denied that she had to sell her personal property but did bring six or seven hogs which the McCoy’s fattened and sold. 

It sounds as though there was little love lost between these relatives.  Testimony was given by some of Jane’s grandchildren, other relatives, and neighbors attesting to the value of the land at the time of purchase, the treatment of Jane by the McCoy's, whether Jane was of sound mind, and character witnesses.  I noticed one of the witnesses was my 3x’s step-grandfather, Peter Wolfe, along with my 2x’s grandmother’s brother McHenry Bray as they were neighbors of Jane Walker Epperson.  This is one of the reasons I love reading these documents as you can make new discoveries for a tree and see how closely connected these lines were.  I’m thinking Shadrach Epperson got a bad rap for assisting the McCoy’s. 

The final decree was made on May 21, 1859.  The judge stated that although Jane was capable of making a valid contract she suffered from “weakness of mind subject to imposition” and sold the tract of land for less than its worth.  It is believed that the money given to Jane was taken back by Archibald or Peggy and constituted fraud.  The sale of the land was set aside and the deed cancelled.  The defendants would be billed for the rents and profits received from the land from the time of death of Jane Walker Epperson. A Writ of Possession would be created to put the Complainants in possession of the land jointly with the defendants.  The defendants filed an appeal but it is not listed on the Archives' website in Hawkins or Hancock county.  Bill of Costs Summary (this was in addition to $250 that was paid when the case was filed):

This case puts life in perspective given that many of us become dependent on someone for our care.  At least today there are other options available for elder care.  I hope she was truly loved and protected by Claibourne and Hester Walker when she landed in their care as was stated in the complaint.  “Growing old is humbling and it takes effort to accomplish this stage of life with dignity.”

― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls