My recent romp through old Court records has turned into an expose' of the Springer family. Apologies, but inconsistencies abound, and inconsistencies bother me.
Delving into NC Land Grants for the Springer family, I don't find an overwhelming number of them. In Montgomery, the mother county of Stanly, where the Springer family I am researching lived, I find but one, and that was to George Springer, the Stanly Springer Patriarch, dated 1800, for 200 acres on the Southwest side of the Pee Dee River. In Stanly, we find 100 acres for Lewis in 1844, 27 acres on Bear Creek for Randle, (who was actually Reuben if you read the actual document), in 1846, 9 acres for Reuben in 1854 and there is one all the way in 1912 to a D. W. Springer in Almond Township.
There's also one in Orange County in 1790 to Uriah Springer, which is related to these, because I believe they descend from this man. The one that has me flummoxed is one to a George H. W. Springer, in 1844, the same year as Lewis. The chain carriers were Dempsey Springer, a brother of Lewis who would move to Cherokee County, Georgia, and Adam, a nephew of Lewis and Dempsey, son of their sister, Barbara.
Who was George H. W. Springer? I don't find him in any other records in Stanly County.
The deed itself describes the tract as being on Stony Run and Bear Creeks, adjoining Dempsey Springer's line and others, it met John Perry's corner, who married Margaret, one of the Springer sisters. This repitition of the family name, and the properties connecting to each other suggests that this was family land and that George H. W. Springer was a member of this Springer family.
I do find one other mention of a George H. W. Springer,
| Name | George W. H. Springer |
|---|---|
| Enlistment Rank | Private |
| Muster Place | Georgia |
| Muster Company | F |
| Muster Regiment | 3rd Cavalry |
| Muster Regiment Type | Cavalry |
| Muster Information | Enlisted |
| Transfer From Unit | F |
| Transfer To Unit | K |
| Side of War | Confederacy |
| Title | Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records |
that of a Confederate soldier from Cherokee County, Georgia. Which coincidentally is the area Dempsey Springer, one of the chain carriers from the above documents, ends up in around 1845.
Dempsey Springer was one of the sons of George Springer, the progenitor of the Stanly County Springers. Born January 2, 1804, the date carved into his tombstone, he first shows up in the 1830 census of Montgomery County, NC, in the half that will become Stanly. His property was along Bear Creek and Stony Run Creek.
| Name | Dimpry Springer |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 | 1 Josiah |
| Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 | 1 Dempsey |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 | 2 Marissa and ? |
| Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 | 1 Katie HInson Springer? |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 3 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 5 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 5 |
He's in the same place in 1840. By 1845, Dempsey is in Georgia and by1850 his wife has passed away. Dempsey first arrived in Forsyth County, Georgia, but by 1850, and settled in what would become Ball Ground, Cherokee County, Georgia.
Ball Ground describes itself "We are a city of 3,500 residents located in Cherokee County, Georgia — on the northern edge of metro Atlanta — nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Our quaint city is known for its historic main street characterized by unique shops and restaurants, numerous historic homes and great recreation opportunities."
The town of Ball Ground was originally Cherokee Territory, and its name is derived from its origins as a flat playing field for a game played by the Cherokee tribe. They would hold competitions there with their Creek neighbors and swap land back and forth during tournaments.
| Name | Dempsey Springer |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Residence Age | 45 |
| Birth Date | abt 1805 |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Residence Date | 1850 |
| Home in 1850 | Division 15, Cherokee, Georgia, USA |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Real Estate | 700 |
| Cannot Read, Write | Yes |
| Line Number | 23 |
| Dwelling Number | 967 |
| Family Number | 971 |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Dempsey Springer | 45 |
| Josiah Springer | 23 |
| Rutha Springer | 13 |
| Marripa Ann Springer | 11 |
| Rush Springer | 9 |
| William Springer | 7 |
| Marissa Owen | 20 |
He has added two children, Jerusha, also seen as "Rush" or Rucy" and William born in 1844, the same year that the Confederate soldier from the same area, George H. W. Springer, was born. His daughter, Marissa, is already a widow at 20, it seems. She will remarry again.
Josiah Springer will move to Missouri and serve in the Civil War.
So, George H. William Springer joined at 18 in 1862, which again, gives him a birthyear of 1844. As the land grant in question was filed that same year, I doubt very seriously that these are the same George H. W. Springers. I've came across boys still in their teens receiving land grants, as in the case of my Half- Third Great Uncle, Peter Howell, but not one in utero.
The only possibility for the Land Grant Springer is an unknown son of George the Progenitor and a brother Dempsey named a son for.
Let's look at that possibility. In the 1790 census, George Springer is still in Orange County, where he was from. By 1800, he's in Montgomery County, North Carolina.
| Name | George Springer |
|---|---|
| Home in 1800 (City, County, State) | Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over | 1 George |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 | 4 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 | 1 Sylvia |
| Number of Household Members Under 16 | 6 |
| Number of Household Members Over 25 | 2 |
| Number of Household Members | 8 |
The census shows that Sally was younger than her husband. They appear to have possibly had 5 daughters and one son by this time. Miranda was born in 1789, Sarah Jr. in 1791, Mary in 1792, Margaret in 1797 and Barbara in 1800. Five daughters. The only son by 1800 was Lewis in 1794.
| Name | Geo Stringer |
|---|---|
| Residence Date | 6 Aug 1810 |
| Residence Place | Wagster, Montgomery, North Carolina, USA |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 | 3 Reuben (1801), Dempsey (1804) Missing boy born between 1800-1810. |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 | 1 Lewis |
| Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over | 1 George |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 | 3 Barbara, Margaret and Mary |
| Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over | 1 Sylvia |
| Number of Household Members Under 16 | 6 |
| Number of Household Members Over 25 | 2 |
| Number of Household Members | 9 |
1810 has the family in "Wagster", Montgomery County. The two older daughters have married, and three sons were born between 1800 and 1810. Reuben was born in 1801 and Dempsey in 1804. There is indeed a missing son.
George Springer passes away before 1830, and there is no 1820 census in Montgomery County, as it was lost to time.
In 1830, Syliva is the head of household. She is with her daughter, Barbara, undoubtedly, the one who doesn't marry.
| Name | Sylina Springer |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 | 1 Barbara |
| Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59 | 1 Sylvia |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 1 |
| Total Free White Persons | 2 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 2 |
As she is again in 1840.
| Name | Sylvia Springer |
|---|---|
| Residence Date | 1840 |
| Home in 1840 (City, County, State) | West Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79 | 1 |
| Persons Employed in Agriculture | 1 |
| No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 1 |
| Total Free White Persons | 3 |
| Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves | 3 |
By this time, Babara has given birth to her son, Adam, also a chain carrier on the Land Grant, and whom I have posted on already. This suggests that all of the sons were on their own, but only Lewis and Dempsy show up. Reuben does not show up in the 1840 census for Montgomery County, or any other nearby. Neither is there a George. Perhaps they were either missed, or working for another family, and not head of household.
To wrap up Dempsey Springer, by 1860, Dempsey was down to four children in the home.
| Name | Dempsy Springer |
|---|---|
| Age | 48 |
| Birth Year | abt 1812 |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Birth Place | North Carolina |
| Home in 1860 | Forsyth, Georgia |
| Post Office | Cumming |
| Dwelling Number | 266 |
| Family Number | 266 |
| Real Estate Value | 800 |
| Personal Estate Value | 2300 |
| Cannot Read, Write | Y |
| Inferred Child | Rutha Springer; Eliza Springer; Riva Springer |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Dempsy Springer | 48 |
| Rutha Springer | 20 |
| Eliza Springer | 18 |
| Riva Springer | 17 |
| Wm Springer | 14 |
William, or George H. William Springer, was now a teenager. Eliza was Maniza Aneliza Springer, who never married and Riva, was Jerusha, who was "Rush" in the census ten years prior. There are multiple land and court records during this time. By 1870, only Dempsey and Maniza were in the home.
There is a court case involving the two of them being robbed in 1874. Maniza was home alone when a group of men set on stealing her father's whiskey man-handled her and threatened to kill her. I will not report on that court case her, but it inspired her father to deed property to here, in the chance of his own demise.
Dempsey would live a long life, however. In response. I believe, to Maniza's being alone when he was on the road engaged in trade and business, Dempsey would remarry.
On August 13th, 1874, 70-year-old Dempsey Springer married 18-year-old Martha E. Jones, and he would outlive her.
| Name | Dempsey Springer |
|---|---|
| Age | 75 |
| Birth Date | Abt 1805 |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Home in 1880 | Cross Roads, Cherokee, Georgia, USA |
| Street | Innaq 4th |
| House Number | 8 |
| Dwelling Number | 159 |
| Race | White |
| Gender | Male |
| Relation to Head of House | Self (Head) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse's Name | Martha Springer |
| Father's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Cannot Write | Y |
| Neighbors | View others on page |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Dempsey Springer | 75 |
| Martha Springer | 24 |
| Anelizer Springer | 35 |
And here they were in 1880, in Crossroads, Cherokee County, Georgia.
Dempsey Springer died on August 3, 1899. He was 95 years old. Despite being 70 years old upon his second stride down the aisle, Dempsey managed to father a child during his second marriage. Sadly, the boy passed away as an infant.
The known children of Dempsey Springer with his first wife, Catherine "Katie" Hinson Springer were:
A) Josiah Springer (1827-1863) Died in Missouri.
B) Marissa Springer (1829-1919) Married 1st Mr. Owen, married second Newton Wilson, Died in Clarke County, Georgia.
C) Dempsey J. Springer (1830-1889) Married Martha C. Pennington. Six children: Adaline, Martha Emma, Marion Frances, William Harrison, Henry, and Laura D. Settled in Mississippi, died in Tennessee.
D) Rutha L. Springer (1838-1916) Married Epsy M. Priest. One child, George W. Priest. Died in Forsyth County, Georgia.
E) Maniza Aneliza Springer (1839-1920) Lived and died in Cherokee County, Georgia.
F) Jerusha Mahala Springer (1843- aft 1920) Married Thomas Butler Fowler. Two children: Allen Jackson Fowler, George Fowler.
G) George H. William Springer (1844-1864) Died in Missouri.
H) George H. Springer (1894-1918) son of Dempsey Springer and Martha Jones Springer just discovered.
Springer row at Old Hightower Baptist Church Cemetery, Ball Ground, Cherokee County, Georgia.
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