In Search of William Henry

Russell, William H

At the time of enlistment on 07 September 1861, he gave his residence as Stanly Co., NC

In the Will of Temperance, aka "Tempy or Tempe" Russell, she mentions a grandson, William Henry Russell, son of William Henry Russell. It was the first I had heard of another son. As his mother lived in Stanly County and first shows up in the 1860 census, although she was probably also there in 1850 or at least in nearby Montgomery County, and as James R. "Jim" Melton, business and tradesman, was known to be there in the 1850's and before, and he is named as the father of her younger son, John Russell, the most likely scenario is just that Tempy and her boys were just  missed in the 1850 census. Perhaps she was in hiding, one of the women that Dr. Kron referred to in his notes within a 10 mile radius of him, in a negative way. 

William H Russell
Residence:	Stanly County, North Carolina, North Carolina
Age at Enlistment:	17
Enlistment Date:	7 Sep 1861
Rank at enlistment:	Private
Enlistment Place:	Stanly County, North Carolina
State Served:	North Carolina
Survived the War?:	Yes
Service Record:	Enlisted in Company K, North Carolina 28th Infantry Regiment on 07 Sep 1861.
Birth Date:	abt 1844
Sources:	North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

There were multiple William and Henry and even William H. Russell's who participated in the Civil War. One from Madison County, and another from Haywood County. But there was only one who was in the right place and the right age. William Henry Russell was a member of the Stanly Guards, Company K, North Carolina 28th infantry Regiment. 

He was out working as a hired hand in 1860, when the census takers came around and enumerated his mother, a seamstress living in the fledling town of Albemarle, and his 13 year old brother John A. Russell.

Teemperance Russel [Temperance Russell]
Age in 1860:	38
Birth Year:	abt 1822
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1860:	Stanly, North Carolina
Gender:	Female
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View Image
Household Members:	Name Age Teemperance Russel 38 John A Russel Name: Wm Russell Age in 1860: 17 Birth Year: abt 1843 Home in 1860: Stanly, North Carolina Gender: Male Post Office: Albemarle Value of real estate: View Image Household Members: Name Age Thomas Rowland 58 Elizabeth Rowland 53 Jane Rowland 35 Lundy A Rowland 33 Nancy A Rowland 24 Elizabeth Rowland 23 Wm Russell 17 13

He was listed as an apprentice living in the home of farmer Thomas Rowland and next to another Rowland who was a miller in 1860. He more likely 16 than 17 at the time, and it is quite possible that he had been "bound" to Thomas Rowland as an apprentice. 

I've only just begun a thorough search for both Jr. and Sr. of William Henry Russell. This was not an uncommon name. One advantage though, to siphon out the William Henry's that could not have been was this, we know he was born in North Carolina, and we know he had a son named for himself. And in those criteria, in Richmond County, Georgia, in 1880, there was only one:

William Russell
Age:	38
Birth Year:	abt 1842
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1880:	District 1269, Richmond, Georgia
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Self (Head)
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Eliza Russell
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Occupation:	Works In Cotton Mill
Cannot read/write: Blind: Deaf and dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane:	View Image
Household Members:	Name Age William Russell 38 Eliza Russell 36 William Russell 5 John Casen 8

By this time, William Henry Russell, born in North Carolina and in the right age range, had married a widow, Eliza Smith Cason, who was shown in the 1870 census with her young son, 5 month old John, who would have had to have been 10 in 1880, not 8. 

Eliza Cason
Age in 1870:	27
Birth Year:	abt 1843
Birthplace:	Georgia
Home in 1870:	Augusta Ward 1, Richmond, Georgia
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Post Office:	Augusta
Value of real estate:	View Image
Household Members:	Name Age Eliza Cason 27 John Cason 5/12

By 1900. twenty years later, her son William Henry Russell JR. is still living with her, along with her nephews, Joseph and Thomas Smith. It is through them that I was able to discover who she was. 

In the 1900 census, it declares that she was the mother of 7 children with only one living. John Cason had obviously died and William Henry, Jr. was her only living child. 

Name:	Liza Russell
Age:	57
Birth Date:	Apr 1843
Birthplace:	Georgia
Home in 1900:	Augusta Ward 4, Richmond, Georgia
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	Georgia
Mother's Birthplace:	Georgia
Mother: number of living children:	1
Mother: How many children:	7
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Liza Russell 57 Wm H Russell 24 Joseph Smith 24 Thomas M Smith 22

Sadly, in Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia, where William Henry Russell, who died in 1896, is buried, there are at least four small children buried that were notated as his:

Catherine Russell, born August 25, 1869 and died Sept 4, 1874

F. M. Russell, born August 16, died August 23, 1875

UnNamed "Child of William Russell" born and died Dec 1, 1876

and lastly,

Temp T. Russell, born Feb 1878 and died Aug 6, 1878, 6 months old.

The trail of William Henry Russell stops after the 1900 census. There were men of his name, but which was him. There will something to nail him down as the right one, and I will find it. Genealogy is, after all a treasure hunt for a good detective. 

The Will of Temperance Russell

Temperance aka "Tempy" Russell, a seamstress and single mother, who lived in the small but growing town of Albemarle, North Carolina during the latter half of the 19th century until a little past the turn of the century, owned a little plot of land and left a will, that shows a little glimpse into her personality.

She took care of her family, in a time when it was very difficult for a woman without a husband to do. And when it was time for her family to take care of her, she made it clear in her will who had and who had not.

Tempy's will comes in three parts: The first part is that of witness statements testifying to the validity of the will. The second part is an addendum from A. P. Harris, the clerk of court accepting the will as authentic, and the last part is the will and the words of Tempie Russell herself.




The first two sections are merely legalese, and far too lengthy and boring to repeat word for word. Yes, I said it...boring...withall and hereto of the first part etc. etc. ad infinitum. They basically state that  A. P. Harris, Clerk of Superior Court, who is also involved with the family in a land transaction, has before him a piece of handwritten paper purported to be the will of Tempie Russell. It has a date of  February 22, 1908 and two witnesses, M. S. Smith and Ada Hathcock,who both testify, sign and seal to the statement, that they were present at the writing of the will and verify that it is actual and true and that no one coerced Tempy into writing it, and that she was also in her right mind, or "of sound mind and memory and of full age to execute a will".

And now for Tempy's will:

State of North Carolina
Stanly County

I Tempy Russell of the aforesaid county and state being of sound mind and memory, but feeble in health and knowing that my earthly existence according to my age is drawing to a close, and being desirous of disposing of what worldly effects I possess while I am living, make and declare this to be my last will and testament. In manner and form as follows: Viz

First    I desire that my executor hereinafter mentioned shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends.

Second   I will and bequeath to my granddaughter Eva Eveline Eudy, wife of John Eudy all my personal property consisting of Household and Kitchen furniture now in the house where I live and all the house and lot where I now live. Being in the South side of the lot deeded to the said Eva Eveline Eudy, dated April 22, 1901, containing one half acre, more or less. 

Third  This last devise, item second, is made to the said Eva Eveline Eudy, with the proviso that John Russell, my son and Sallie Russell, his wife, have a house there as long as both of them shall live, and with the understanding that the said Eva Eveline Eudy and her husband, John Eudy, see that they, the said John Russell and Sallie Russell, is provided for and taken care of during their natural lives and at their death, see that they are decently buried. 

Fourth   My will and desire is that all of the property devised to the said Eva Eveline Eudy be hers to have and to hold during her natural life and at her death, to her bodily heirs, if she has any. If she has none, it is to be hers to will and to do with as she sees fit, provided however, that she comply with Item Third of this will.

Fifth    I will and devise to my grandson William Henry Russell, son of William Henry Russell, late of Augusta, Georgia, one dollar to be paid to him by my executor, When called for. I make this difference between my grandchildren for the reason that the said William Henry Russell has never lived in this part of the country and has done nothing for me, and I hope he is able to live without it, and for the reason that the said Eva Eveline Eudy, and her father and mother, has always lived with me, or near me, and have administered to my wants, in so far as they were able, and always treated me with respect and affection.

Sixth   I hereby nominate and appoint my friend S. H. Milton, my executor to this, my last will and testiment, to do and carry out to the true interest, and meaning, every part and clause of this, my last will and testament, In witness thereof, I hereto set my hand and seal this 22 day of February, A. D. 1908.

Tempe  (her mark) Russell


In the presence of us who at her request and in her presence subscribe our names as witnesses.

M. S. Smith
Ada Hathcock




So, Temperance Russell has given us a surprise in her will. It was only thought that she had one son, John A. Russell, who married Sarah "Sally" Carter. According to her will, she had another son, William Henry Russell, who had a son, William Henry Russell.

So, here are the hints Tempy gave us:

One, her grandson has never lived in this area.

Two, in 1908 he was in Augusta, Georgia.

Three, William Henry Russell, Sr., was not living in 1908.

Four, we also know that William Henry Russell, Sr. was not living with Tempy in the 1860 census, or any of those afterwards.

So where was William Henry the first in 1860? Where were Tempy and her boys in 1850? When and why did he migrate? When was he born and when did he die? Who was his father? Was he also a Melton?

So, the search for William Henry Russell is on, along with the origins of mother Tempy and also the origins of Sallie Carter Russell's father, Marcus P. Russell.

Tempy also referred to S. H. Milton as her friend. S. H. Milton was the son of Henry Harrison Milton/Melton, affectionately referred to as "Bud" in his father's letters.

The Letters of Henry Melton

Samuel Houston Milton served in several legal, political and business capacities in turn-of-the-century Albemare. Around the time of Tempie's will, he was the Mayor. Tempie evidently had strong ties to the Melton family. Can I find any more trace of her or her sons?