Sunday, May 31, 2015

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 31-June 6




May 31~
  Margaret Frances "Fannie" (Gibson) Thames (1854-1929) my paternal Great Great Grandmother was born 161 years ago. Her birth place was most likely in the part of  Sumter District, South Carolina that became Clarendon County in 1855.  
Paxville was the home of the family for some time.
Fannie was the daughter of Benjamin Reese Gibson (1824-1907) and Margaret Cantey (Walker) Thames (1830-1900).

June 4~
  William A. McManus (1854-1914), my maternal Great Great Grandfather would be celebrating his 161st birthday on this day. Records indicate that he was born in South Carolina, but the exact place has yet to be determined. William's parents are unknown at this time as well. 


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Monday, May 25, 2015

52 Ancestors Week 21-Military~Thomas Lemuel Thames


   Many of my ancestors have served in the military. 
  For Week 21 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Thomas Lemuel Thames (1827-1863), my paternal 3rd Great Grandfather is the subject.
  In the 1860 US Federal Census of Clarendon County, South Carolina, Thomas and family were living in Wrights Bluff.
 With the start of the Civil War Thomas joined the Hampton Legion of the South Carolina Volunteers. He was part of the Company C, Infantry Division.  His Compiled Service Record shows that he enlisted on April 15, 1862 in Sumter, South Carolina.


Muster Roll
Thomas L. Thames
March and April 1862
Fold3.com image

 It appears from the Muster Rolls that during most of Thomas' service in the Confederate Army, he was ill. He was in and out of the Hospital in Richmond, Virginia and reported as absent due to sickness several times. One record has him absent-sick with diarrhea. This seems to have been common with the soldiers in Hampton's Legion.

Muster Roll
T.L. Thames
31 Oct. 1862-Dec. 5 1862
Fold3.com image

 Thomas was eventually furloughed and went home to his family in South Carolina. Passed down through the years is the story of his homecoming. It is said that Thomas Thames was so dirty upon his arrival that his wife, Rebecca, made him bathe outside, cut off all his  hair and burn his clothes before he could go in the house.
   The company Muster Roll records the death of Thomas Lemuel Thames as being on 10 March 1863. Although  the cause of death is not recorded, it is thought that he died as a result of the illnesses he suffered during his time of service in the Hampton Legion. 

Muster Roll
T.L. Thames
March-April 1863
Fold3.com image
 Thomas Lemuel Thames left his family, friends and home  for a cause he felt was worth fighting for. He returned home a sick man. His  death left a widow and two children whose lives were forever changed. 
That is the nature of war. 


On this Memorial Day, 2015 let us honor those who fought and died in the many conflicts our nation has been involved in. 
Let us never forget their sacrifice.

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 24-May 30




May 24~
 Benjamin Thomas Thames (1854-1931), my paternal Great Great Grandfather was born 161 years ago in Sumter District, South Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Lemuel Thames (1827-1853) and Rebecca Hannah (Stukes) Thames (1830-1870).

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Thursday, May 21, 2015

52 Ancestors Week 20-Black Sheep- Found Guilty of Murder~Twice!




The blog prompt for week 20 of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2015 Edition leads me to my maternal Great Grand Uncle Andrew Clifton Roberts, Sr. (1905-1971).

     Andrew Clifton Roberts, Sr. the son of my Great Great Grandparents, George Philip Roberts (1856-1930) and Hattie (Brazell) Roberts (1870-1927) seems to have had several run-ins with the law. As a young man in 1922, he was sentenced to a life sentence for the death of a transfer driver in Columbia, South Carolina.  At the time of his arrest for the murder of the driver, Andrew was serving a nine-month sentence for grand larceny after being convicted of stealing a car
The life sentence was not served however as he was released from prison after an appeal proved successful. 
   For a time, Andrew seemed to have made a new life for himself with a good job as the Captain of the county chain gang. He had become a family man marrying Laura Belle (Wilson) Roberts (1911-1997) and was the father of six children. Events to come eventually lead to a divorce. 
The following is the front page headline from The State, Columbia, SC, Friday, Nov. 4, 1949:


  Andrew Roberts, once again had been found guilty of murder. This time his 18-year-old son, Andrew, Jr. was one of the witnesses.
 According to several newspaper accounts, on August 17, 1949 Andrew Roberts, Sr. and an insurance salesman got into an altercation.  The disagreement according to  Andrew, Sr., was over some unwelcomed attention given by the man to wife Laura during times when he was not at home.
 Andrew and son Andrew, Jr.,  were driving down the road when they spotted the salesman driving in his car. A chase began, and they ended up in a wooded area near Eastover ,SC. An argument ensued, and the agent was shot and killed.  
  The car belonging to the insurance agent was discovered, and a search began for him. His body was found 11 days later. The gun used to shoot him was turned over to the police by Andrew Roberts, Sr. who eventually confessed to the crime. 

The State, Columbia, SC
10 Sept., 1949 pg. 9


  After a trial lasting several months, Andrew Clifton Roberts, Sr. was sentenced to life in prison April 22, 1950.  Then in June of 1968 a list of Paroles Granted is printed in The State newspaper.
The State, Columbia, SC
7 June 1968, pg. 4C

 Andrew died three years later at the age of 65. 
   
 Found guilty of murder, twice. The toll on his family must have been immense.

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Sunday, May 17, 2015

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 17-May 23


  

May 17~
   Emily Elizabeth (Vaughn) Bradford (1797-1865), my paternal 4th Great Grandmother, died 150 years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina and may have been buried there in the Dargan Cemetry. Many of the graves have been relocated and at this time there is no record of her burial.

May 18~ 
  My maternal 4th Great Grandfather, Philip Roberts, III (1798-1852), was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina 217 years ago.  His parents were Philip Roberts, II (1763-1854) and Sarah (Kirtley) Roberts (1765-1838).

May 20~
 George Philip Roberts (1856-1930), my maternal Great Great Grandfather was born in Richland County, South Carolina 159 years ago. He was the fourth child of Thomas Philip Roberts (1830-1893)  and Eliza Atiza (Brazell) Roberts (1836-1890).

May 22~
  This day marks what would have been the 127th birthday of my paternal Great Grandfather, Jubal Ransom Early (1888-1964). Jubal was born in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina to Ransom Taylor Early (1829-1888) and Ellen Caroline (Martin) Early (1850-1926).

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Thursday, May 14, 2015

52 Ancestors Week 19-There's a Way~Benjamin Marion

 There's a Way-what ancestor found a way out of a sticky situation?   
 A fabulous prompt for week 19 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2015 by Amy Johnson Crow.

  According to family lore, my paternal 8th Great Grandfather, Benjamin Marion (Abt. 1670-1735) received the following letter:

 "Your damnable heresy will deserve more in this life than purgation by fire which awfully awaits you in the next-But in consideration of your youth and worthy connections, our mercy has condescended to commute your punishment to perpetual exile. You will, therefore, instantly prepare to quite your country forever, for if after 10 days from the date hereof, should you be found in any part of the Kingdom, your miserable body shall be consumed by fire, and your impious ashes scattered on the winds of Heaven.
 (Signed) Pere Rochelle"

 Benjamin and wife Judeth Baluet lived in Chaume, Poitou, France and were members of the French Protestant Church, known also as Huguenots. In 1685 Louis XIV declared Protestantism illegal and renounced the Edict of Nantes which had protected non-Catholics for many years.  Intense persecution began. It is said that over 400,000 French Protestants fled the country.

Emigration of the Huguenots
Public Domain-Wikimedia

 The Marions were among those who fled for their lives and their religion making their way from France to South Carolina. Records show that they arrived in about 1690 and the first record of Benjamin's many land purchases was in Goose Creek, South Carolina in 1704. Benjamin did well in his new country. By the time of his death in 1735 his estate including over 1,ooo acres of land was worth 6,851.75 pounds. 
 Not only did Benjamin Marion find a way to escape from persecution and make a new life of freedom for himself and his family, he paved the way for generations that followed him. Grandson, Francis Marion (1732-1795), better known as the "Swamp Fox" was a powerful leader in the Revolutionary War and helped pave the way for American Independence.

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Sunday, May 10, 2015

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 10-May 16




No ancestor's  birthdays, deaths or anniversaries to remember this week.  At least none that I have discovered! 

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Thursday, May 7, 2015

52 Ancestors Week 18-Where There's a Will~There's an Opportunity to Give.



The will of Charity Stafford (___-1840), my maternal 4th Great Grandmother is being shared for week 18 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2105 Addition from Amy Johnson Crow.
  This post will also be shared with The Slave Name Roll Project in hopes that the enslaved mentioned in the will may be found by their descendants. 


Front page of Charity Stafford Will
FamilySearch.org
Sumter County Will Book D-2 pg. 32

Back page of Charity Stafford Will
Familysearch.org
Sumter County Will Book D-2 pg. 32



In the name of God Amen. I Charity Stafford, of Sumter District, South Carolina, being in sound health and disposing mind, do make and publish this my last Will and testament.
Item, 1st It is my will that all my just debts be paid by the sale of my two negroes, viz, Judia and her child, Bluford and the balance of the money arising from the sale of said negroes
after my debts are paid together with my house hold furniture and all my stock, to be equally Divided between my two sons. Lunsford 0 Stafford and Hartwell Stafford.
Item 2nd I give and bequeath to my beloved Grand Daughter Barbary E Stafford my plantation whereon I now live to be for the benefit of her father J. Stafford till she, my Grand daughter B E Stafford becomes of age, but not to be subject to any debts already or hereafter to be contacted either by her or any other person or persons.
Item 3rd I give and bequeath to my beloved Barbary Jones my three negroes, viz, Robert, Molly, and Elmirah; during her lifetime, but not be subject to any debts already contracted, or that may hereafter be contracted by her or any other person, or persons.
And at her death, It is my wish that the three negroes (To wit) Robert, Molly, and Elmirah, together with their increase be given to her three children in the following manner viz, I wish Hartwell E Jones to have Robert; and Charity E Jones to have Molly with her increase; and Mary F Jones to have Elmyrah with her increase, and in case either of the children die before they become of age or marry their part of the negro is to go to the surviving one or ones, and neither the negroes nor their increase is to be liable for any debts now contracted or that may hereafter be contracted by any of the heirs or any other person or persons-(Turn over) 
   In witnesses whereof I the Said Charity Stafford have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal this the 16th day of Feby[sic] in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Thirty -nine

her
Charity x Stafford (SEAL)
mark
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Charity Stafford as her last will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presents [sic] and at her request have here unto set our names as
witnesses
Noah Graham
Samuel P Hatfield
Alfred China

Recorded in Sumter County Will Book D-2, Pge 32
Recorded 9th Day of Nov 1840
W Lewis Ordy

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Sunday, May 3, 2015

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 3-May 9



May 5~
   My paternal Grandmother, Mary (Baker) Hudson (1920-2010), would have been 95 years old today.  She was born in Sumter County, South Carolina and was the daughter of Jubal Ransom Early (1888-1964) and Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993). Mary was raised by her maternal grandparents, Arthur Wellington Baker (1857-1940) and Martha Victoria (Bradford) Baker (1862-1947). 
Wish I could celebrate this birthday with you, Mimi. You are missed.

May 9~
  Thomas Philip Roberts (1830-1893), my maternal Third Great Grandfather died 122 years ago in Richland County, South Carolina. He is buried in Brown's Chapel Cemetery in the same county. 

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