30 Fathers in 30 Days: Josiah Abshire: Born on the 4th of July!

 

The old cemetery sloops peacefully over the rolling hills among the magnolias and holly bushes of old Wadesboro. It bears a mix of modern granite stones with a polished sheen, and broken stones beaten down by time and the abuse of vandals and weather. Among the crumbling monuments of over a century and a half old, is that of Josiah Abshire, an incredible, and extraordinary, if not unusual man. 

In the old days, ancestry was passed down by word of mouth and Family Bibles. Some societies kept meticulous records, writing down every baptism or birth, marriage and death with unerring consistency. Others didn't at all. Today, we are still at the mercy of trace, surviving records with centuries of loss of many of them, while still attempting to establish a paper trail. Now, a new, incredible tool has emerged, housed within our own bodies. The fascinating and still emerging science of DNA.

It began with a message from DNA match named Alan who I match with on multiple genealogy testing sites, Gedmatch and Family Tree DNA. From him, I discovered we shared, at the time, seven DNA matches together, whose number has now increased to nine. That's not many, but it is something, considering the circumstances. The DNA matches that we share all had one thing in common, they were descendants of one man, Josiah Abshire. 

Josiah, who lived to be an amazing 97 years old, was a Veteran of not only the War of 1812, but of the Revolutionary War as well.

Now I have a long list of Revolutionary War Patriots in my Family Tree, some, I have posted on recently; John Query, Alexander Erwin, John Starnes, Colby Randle, David Blalock, Job Calloway, John Lemmonds, and his father, surgeon William Marr Lemmonds, Solomon Burris, Matthew Wallace, I could go on. But where does Josiah Abshire or Absure come in? 

Josiah was noted enough in his community to have received an obituary in The Wadesboro Argus. They reported that he had received a pension from the government for many years and that he had spoken to the writer before his death and would be 97 on the 4th of July. A Patriot born on the 4th of July! Imagine!

His tombstone gives a date of death of May 6, 1853. The inscription states that he was a veteran of both wars. He is buried beside a woman named Jane Fletcher.

In the 1850 census, Josiah is listed as a 100-year-old pensioner, born in South Carolina.

Also in the home was a 40-year-old Jane Fletcher, the woman buried beside him, and 18-year-old apprentice, James Lockhart. 

Name	Josiah Absier
Gender	Male
Race	White
Residence Age	100
Birth Date	abt 1750
Birthplace	South Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina, USA
Occupation	Pensioner
Industry	Non-Industrial Response
Real Estate	200
Cannot Read, Write	Yes
Line Number	32
Dwelling Number	55
Family Number	55

Household members

Name	Age
Josiah Absier	100
Jane Fletcher	40
James Lockhart	18

Who were they and what can they tell us about Josiah Abshire, if anything? I already know that Jane was buried beside of Josiah Abshire.  

After the death of Josiah in 1853, it appears Jane and James remained in the home in Wadesboro along the Wadesboro and Morven Road, that they were living in with him. They deserve a post of their own, because they have a lengthy story, but in summary:

1860: James is still using the Lockhart surname. He's a 26-year-old Cabinet Maker. Jane Fletcher, 50, is living with him.

1870: Jane, 60, is Head of Household. James is now going by Fletcher, and is a 35-year-old carpenter.

1880: James Fletcher is the head of household and listed as a 40-year-old carpenter. We find out now that Jane, now listed as 72, is his mother. They have a 25-year-old housekeeper living with them named Mary Lineberry. 

1894: James Fletcher, "for natural love and affection", deeds a gift of property to Mary Lineberry. 

1900: Mary Lineberry is the head of household and James Fletcher, 62, a pensioner, is living with her. He was a Civil War vet. Mary has taken in an 8-year-old girl, Mary B Atkinson, as an adopted daughter. The girl is her grandniece, the granddaughter of her sister Elizabeth. 

1900-1901 Deeds go back and forth between a Henry family and James Fletcher and Mary Lineberry for the same tract of land. The wife, Lila Henry, is Mary's sister. 

1901 Mary writes a Will. After the usual shpill about body and bills, she leaves everything to her 'friend', James Fletcher, if he outlives her. Her second request is what gives us information. She wants a proper grave and markers for herself, for James, his mother, her mother, his grandmother, and his grandmother's husband. Not his grandfather, but his grandmother's husband. She adds that after James's death, all of the funds after the sale of her property goes to the church, in the hand of the trustees of the church and she names the trustees as her executors.

James dies first in 1905 and then Mary in 1910, so the trustees probate her estate. 

The records show that James is buried near his mother, Jane Fletcher, who is buried next to Josiah Abshire and Peggy Fletcher. Jane and Peggy's stones do not contain dates. According to this information, Jane was the daughter of Peggy Fletcher and James was the son of Jane. The vacillation between the surnames of Lockhart and Fletcher suggest, but do not prove, that James may have been illegitimate This also states that Peggy must have been the wife of Josiah Abshire, however, she is listed in the records of Eastwood Cemetery as Peggy Fletcher, not Abshire, so they may not have been legally married. 

This information is corroborated by the 1840 census where Josiah heads a household with a man between 90-100, a boy between 5 and 10, a woman in her 30's and a woman in her 80's. We know Jane was born around 1810 and died after 1880 and before 1894. Her mother, Peggy would have been born between 1750 and 1760 and must have died between 1840.

We're going to flip the script now and go back to the first census record of Josiah Abshire in Anson County, the 1810. Although he was born around 1756, the 1850 census states that he was born in South Carolina. Jane Fletcher's state of birth oscillates between South Carolina and Virginia, with her parents noted as being born in Virginia. 

Sit down, because this one is going to blow your mind. 

1810

Name	Josiah Abiaie
Residence Date	6 Aug 1810
Residence Place	Anson, North Carolina, USA
Number of All Other Free Persons	6
Number of Household Members	6

In 1810, Josiah was the head of a household of 6 "Other Free Persons". That is not in error. His military records hold him as a person of color. But in 1840 and 1850, he was counted among the white population. Yes, he was. Let me explain. Free people of color was a catch-all category for anyone darker than linen. It included freed slaves, people of mixed race born to free parents, or at least a free mother, indigenous people, and the odd person from any other country of brown-skinned individuals. Josiah must have been almost white, but not all white, and the darker part remains a mystery. I must add that his descendants are all white, he married white and his children either passed or chose to present themselves as white. Unfortunately, there is no other information about the 5 other people in his home in 1810

1820

Name	Jonah Absher
Enumeration Date	7 Aug 1820
Home in 1820 (City, County, State)	Harris, Anson, North Carolina, USA
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10	2
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14	1
Free Colored Persons - Males - 45 and over	1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 26 thru 44	1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture	1
Free White Persons - Under 16	2
Total Free White Persons	2
Total Free Colored Persons	3
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other	5

In 1820, we can surmise that Josiah was free colored male over 45. There was a free colored male under 14 and two free white males under ten. There was a free colored female between 26 and 44. This must have been his wife. 

1830

Name	Josiah Alsheart
Home in 1830 (City, County, State)	Anson, North Carolina
Free Colored Persons - Males - 55 thru 99	1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 10 thru 23	1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 24 thru 35	1
Total Free Colored Persons	3
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored)	3

In 1830, Josiah was the Free Colored man between 55 and 99. There was a free colored woman between 24 and 35 and another between 10 and 23. The boys were gone. Then we know the 1840 group appears to have been Josiah, with Peggy, Jane and James Fletcher. 

Which then brings us to 1850 where he was counted as a 100-year-old pensioner. 

Alfred

Now, as far as Anson County goes, only one child of Josiah Abshire was known or proven, that of Alfred, who is named in deeds and hired and attorney to represent him from Georgia when his father passed away. Alfred was born about 1805, and by 1840, was settled in Habersham, Georgia, where he appears in the 1840 census.  Alfred married Sarah Price, a lady of British descent and worked as a shoemaker. Together they had nine children: A J, Mary J., Aminda, Alfred Prescott, Francis Marion, Joseph Josiah, William Henry, Alfred Jr., and America. 

Alfred is not seen in any record, beyond perhaps his early census records as a child, as anything but a white man. Whatever color he had inherited from his father must have faded away in Alfred, and certainly among the grandchildren. 

In steps DNA, which has confirmed three other children for Josiah Abshire. 

Ann, born about 1785, although that year is flexible and might be more in the 1800 range. 

Joseph 1808 - 1850

Rachel about 1810 to Unknown, who married a Horne and moved to Cumberland County. 

Joseph and his wife, Martha are living in York County, South Carolina in 1850. They had two sons, one named Joseph II, who both died during the Civil War.

Land tales:

Below are the deeds that Josiah Abshire was involved in recorded at the Anson County, North Carolina Register of Deeds:

1819, March 30 Book S Page 343 - Josiah Abshire to Ingoe D. Cash for $320, 180 acres in the Illinois Territory, part of Josiah's Military Bounty.

1821, Oct. 12 Book W Page 403 - Josiah Abshire to Ingoe D. Cash, 160 acres in Illinois State, "patented by the United States of Americas to Josiah Abshire."

1829, April 29 Book Y Page 236- William Hammond to Alfred Abshire for  $30 where Josiah Abshire lives in the town o fWadesboro, number 5 plat of town on Caswell Street, one half acres which Hammond bought of W.Wade.

1833 Nov. 23 Book Z Page 19 Josiah Abshire Grant # 3120, $10 for every 100 acres, 15 acres joining Augustus Shepherd and William Hammond. on the east edge of Stanbach Ferry Rd and Alexander W. Brandon's.

1839, April 9 Book 10 Page 56 - Josiah Abshie to Alexander Little for $30 in the town of Wadesboro, for 6 acres adjoining Coleman's old field. 

1839, April 9 - Book 15, Page 166 - Alexander Little to Josiah Abshire, 4 acres on the Stanback Ferry Road adjoining Josiah Abshire.

1849 June 5th Book 13 Pages 140 & 141 - Josiah Abshire to Sherwood Cox for $30 a lot on Moss's Ferry Branch adjoining A. Shepherd and Josiah Abshire and the middle of Stanback Ferry Road, two acres. The a second deed on the 31st of August 1839 to Sherwood Cox for two and one quarter acres. 

1855 January Book 15 Page 671 - Patrick J Coppedge as administrator of Josiah Abshire, Wilson Allen became highest bidder for $127, property on Stanback Ferry Road adj. Shepherd's line, Jane Fletchers' corner, and Willoughby's line. This is the same P. J. Coppedge with land transaction between himself and the Fletchers. 

1855 -Book 23 Page 476 Alfred Abshire of Habersham, Georgia appoints Joseph White his attorney to sell property, "formerly the property of my father and conveyed to me by him."

1855 Book 23 Page 477 Alfred Abshire by his Attoney J. White to P J Coppedge, one and a half acres on N.E. Caswell Street at William Shaddings corner, and meeting Patrick Coppedge. 

1887 Book 23 Page 178 P. J. Coppedge to Albert Myers for $8.25, one half acres for debts owed, property formerly belonging to Josiah Abshire. 

Back to the Conversation 

So, where do I fit in, in all of this? During my correspondence with Alan, who had spent over 30 years working on the Abshire family line, came this conversation;

"Do you have any Abshire's in your family tree?"

"Not that I know of."

"How about Hornes or Hooks?"

"I have Hooks, but not Horne"

"Do you have a Daniel Hooks?"

"I do. My third Great Grandparents, John and Martha Capenter Hooks had a son named Daniel J. Hooks born in 1852."

"No, this is older than that. Do you have an Ann Hooks?"

I didn't know that I did, until I found this....

John Hooks died in the Civil War in 1864. He left a living wife and ten children. However, it was Ann Hooks, his mother, who made a claim for his settlement with the War Department. So yes, I did have an Ann Hooks in my family tree. Ann Abshire married a Daniel Hooks who died in 1845. DNA suggests she was the daughter of Josiah Abshire, making her my 4th Great Grandmother and him my 5th Great Grandfather. The one mystery I have not solved is where was Ann after Daniel died? She was evidentally alive in 1864, so should be somewhere in 1850 and 1860, which named everyone. There are multiple Ann Hooks about in those records, but I have not settled on one that says "This is me.", in some way or another.

John Hooks

The above link takes you to a post of mine on John Hooks, himself. 

As far as Josiah's own war records, he is on a DAR Roster and recieved a pension and bounty land in Illinois " Territory', for his Revolutionary War Service. 

In the War of 1812, he was a Corporal in Parker's Company 3rd US Rifle Regiment US Rangers. He was ruptured in January, 1815 near Alexandria, Virginia while on a march, and was discharged as an invalid. 

An 1825 affidavit by Major Thomas J. Robeson describes him explicitly as "a man of color', then about 56, living in Anson County, NC. Major Robeson praised his faithful service . He appears on an 1840 pension roll in Anson County and recieved land patent No. 8135 and 1818/ .

Josiah Abshire's situation gained the attention of websites such as Fourth Generation Inclusive, which tracts records of early Free family groups of color from the early years of the nation. 

The website mentioned the early census records, where he headed a family of six free people of color, perhaps himself, a wife and their four children.

They also recorded his amazing military career. Josiah evidently had a wife before his relationship with Peggy Fletcher, the widow of an older James Fletcher found in early Anson County records, which seems to have began between 1830 and 1840.

As far as the free person of color tag, some assume that meant he was black. But that's not what the evidence gives us. Josiah was light enough to be counted as white in his later years. His children were considered white and their mother may have been. This would have not have happened had he had been fully African, even if their mother was not. It seems he was a darker-skinned man of mostly European heritage, and the other part unknown. Perhaps Native, perhaps a touch of African blood, distantly. 

Josiah Abshire on a pension list for Anson County.

Joshiah Abshires Military Bounty Grant for land in Illinois

The origins of Josiah Abshire remain a mystery. He was old enough to appear in the 1790 or 1800 census. Yet, he did not. This suggests he was living in someone else's home, somewhere. The 1850 census gives his place of birth as South Carolina. Scan the entire 1790 census for the USA and you get two Abshire/Abshure's, one in Burke County, NC and the other in Wilkes County, NC. In 1800, there are two in each of these same Counties, no Josiah. By 1810, they seem to have spread out a little bit, one of them being Josiah in Anson County. The name is said to be an abstract of the German name Ibshcher, or a variation of Upsher.and a Lewis Abshire bought land in Virginia in 1637, but the name didn't take off until the mid-1800's. 

There was a Daniel Hooks in Anson County in the early years, and John Hooks did have a mother named Ann. 

Just as an experiment, I typed in Josiah as my ancester in my Family Tree and the next morning, I already had a match from a descendant of Alfred's on Thrulines. Now there are many. Ann may have only had the one son. I believe she may have had two, the two little boys in Josiah's home under five that were white when the rest of the house was FOP. Research continues. 

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