The School House

On May 6, 1859, my 3rd Great Grandfather, Henry Davis gave half an acres of land to the County School Committee for a school that was already built upon his property. I remember seeing this deed years ago, and at the time, I didn't give it much creedence, and thought it to be the Old Davis Schoolhouse, but it wasn't. What was known as the Old Davis School House was located near Aquadale, Stanly County, North Carolina. 

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Thu, Feb 11, 1915Page 3

The schoolhouse building was actually a multipurpose building, as seen in the above 1915 newspaper clipping from the Stanly News and Press. It was more of a community building, and in February of 1915, the community of Davis was having a box supper, or a community gathering, much like what we would call a 'potluck'. The school was located around the intersecton of Old Davis Road and Aldridge Road. It was called Davis because it had been decades earlier, the Old Davis Plantation and many descendants of Job Davis had lived there. Other families had moved in, primarily Keplys and Kimmers. Aldridges, Carpenters, Browns and Smiths had long been neighbors of the Davis family. A Deese family had settled just south of Aquadale before the turn of the Century and an Efird family had moved in from the Big Lick area about the same time.

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Sun, Apr 6, 1997Page 4

The odd thing about the old Davis School was that although the school was located on my mother's family's ancestral lands, it was my Dad who had shown me the location. Well, he had explained that he had played there as a child, and it was over the hill from his Aunt Dorothy's house, who we were visiting. Aunt Dorothy was a that time a Luther, having married one, and she was the sister of my paternal grandmother. Half-sister, to be exact, as Grandma had been born a Lemmons and Aunt Dorothy, a Burris. Both Grandma and Aunt Dorothy had attended Davis School as children. The above picture is of Davis School students in 1920. Grandma would not be in this photo, as she was born in 1915, and would not have been old enough to attend school yet. Dorothy had not been born. The two girls that were idenfied in the above photos were Keply's. One had married a Floyd. Anyone familiar with the Davis family history knows the association with the Floyd family. The roots run deep.

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Tue, Jun 9, 1992Page 7

The above photo of Davis School graduates is from about the time my Grandmother was born.They are holding popscicles they recieved as a prize for the achievement of graduating. There was one boy, Lawson Hill, probably because sons were expected more, to help run the family farm than girls. As my Grandmothers mother was a Hill, and although they lived in Cabarrus County, they had Rocky Rivers roots, I pondered on if there was a relation. There may have been a few generations back, very likely, in fact. However, I found Lawson briefly in my family tree, but not due to the Hill connection. He was the younger brother of a Fred Hill, owner of the 'Fred Hill House' which is still occupied by that family. Fred Hill has a significance in two manners. First, he married Ouisa Stewart. Ouisa was the daughter of Hortense Davis, the oldest child and only daughter of Edward Winfield Davis, a son of Job and second sheriff of Stanly County. Hortense died young, of pneumonia, and had actully divorced Ouisa's father, William R. Stewart, of  Union County. The reason for the divorce was an affair with Kitty Davis, Ouisa's cousin, a tragic figure. I have several posts in the early years of this blog concerning Hortense and Kitty, and Ouisa. Ouisa was raised by her grandmother, Rebecca Hathcock Davis, widow of Edward Winfield Davis, and her legal guardian, as during that era, a man was preferred, was Rebecca's second husbanc, John T. Crump. As Ouisa was the sole heiress of her mother's share of E. W. Davis's substantial holdings, there were some shady issues involving Crumps usage and disposal of Ouisa's assetts. Eventually, she regained control of real estate, which was firmly protected due to the diligence of her grandfather, and she inherited the Davis Hill or Rocky River Hill part of the property, which is near the end of the Gaddy's Ford Road. 

Fred Hill's homestead is located off of Aldridge Road and my third Great Grandmother, Priscilla Murray Aldridge is buried behind it. Her daughter, Julina Aldridge married E. W. Davis's nephew, Horton H. Davis, and I will come back to that in a moment.

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Fri, Oct 27, 1922Page 8

In the October 27, 1922 edition of The Stanly News and Press, it was revealed that the Davis School was also used as a church, or meeting house, as services were held there. Rev. Will Hopkins, evidentally, an itenerant minister, was set to preach there. Also reported that Miss Ophie Efird was going to be employed by the school as a primary teacher.

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Thu, Apr 5, 1917Page 6

In 1917, the Davis School was closed for the Easter Holiday. It was announced that a picnic was to be held at the Carpenter Ford. The mention of this Ford is exciting. The Carpenter Ford was up river and around the bend from the Davis Ford. My ancestors Job Davis and Ludwell Carpenter, (James Ludwell), had been neighbors from the late 1790's. Their descendants have been neighbors for over two centuries.

This clipping seems to refer to the whole neighborhood under the title of the school. It names some of the people who lived there, Aldridges, of course, as they lived on Aldridge road, which connected to the Davis Road, but also Allen and Baucom.

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Sun, Apr 27, 1997Page 4

Above is another picture of students at the school in 1923. The names of the female students are given with their maiden names and the surname of who they married. The maiden names would reflect who lived in the neighborhood, the married names, not necessarily. Lots of Aldridges, of course, Deese, afore mentioned, Floyds, of course, Turners, from just across the river, originally, another family name. Simpson, another family that lived closer to Aquadale, and Davis was between Aquadale and Cottonville, but a little west of them both. There are also Honeycutt and Burris's, immigrants from the western part of the county, and mixture of these names in the marriages, but not one Davis. Aunt Dorothy was born a Burris, and Grandma would marry a Lambert. Dorothy was born about this time, and grandma should have been old enough to attend by then, but she's not listed, but she definately stated that she went there. Oh, and there are the Keply's.

It's time to voice my grievance with the Keply's. One household of them moved into what was the home of my 2nd Great Grandmother, Julina Aldridge Davis, before she married Horton H. Davis. It is known that Julina was a Civil War orphan, who had been bound to the Benjamin Lindsey Whitley family after his death, despite having a living mother. Some of her older sisters were pushed into marriage at this time,  one to one of Whitley's sons at age 15. Julina was too young, as was her twin sister, Julia, who died as a child. Her oldest brother was also called to War, but had lived. A younger brother was sent to live with an Uncle. Julina was bound to the Whitley's who had lots of sons. Julia had several older children by one or more of these sons before her marriage. We know Molly (Aldrdige Davis Boone), and Jesse Filmore Aldridge, where children of his son, Ephraim. George's father is unknown, as he went by Davis and had no children and didn't name him in the Permanent voting record like Filmore. The first of Julina's children with H. H. Davis was Titus, born in 1887.

But there were two more, born before H. H. was involved, both girls, confirmed by Filmore, and were buried behind the house. The house at the fork of Aldridge and Davis Roads. 

The house was purchased by Keppys after Juliana joined the Davis household. A beautiful modern brick ranch house stands there now.  But, at some point, as reported by my Dad, who grew up in the neighborhood and attended Aquadale School, one of the Keplys, past the time of the children in this photo, decided the small area occupied by two tiny graves, took up too much room along the edge of his tilled property, pulled up the modest markers, and plowed over my Great Great Aunts, my Great Grandfather's half-sisters. Sally and Lizzie are now covered in Corn and Cotton. The girls were born roughly around 1883 and 1885 and died between 1887 and 1889, respectively.  He could not spare the small amount of turf taken up by two small little girls. I don't know the first name this of Mr. Kepley, and of course he is long gone by now, but when I hear of a Kepley from the Aquadale or Cottonville area, I cringe in anger. 

Stanly News and Press Albemarle, North Carolina • Tue, Oct 19, 1971Page 5

Above is an actual newspaper photo taken of the Old Davis Schoolhouse around 1920. It was probably built about 1890 or so, and was in use until the 1940's. It stood abandoned until at least the early part of my lifetime but has now totally collapsed into the earth.  The odd thing about my grandmother attending, is that her people were from Mecklenburg and Union Counties, with a little flow into Cabarrus. She was born near Concord, in Cabarrus County. Her mother would marry a Burris, after her father's death, just before her birth, who happened to be a Stanly County boy who had moved to Concord to work for Cannon Mills. They would end up near Cottonville by her teens and the children would attend the Davis School. There, she met and married her step-fathers nephew, Burley Lambert, who had been raised in Cottonville by his mother's sister, who married a Smith from the area, his mother having died when he was an infant. 

But the school that Henry Davis was donating the land to predated the Davis School by at least 3 or 4 decades. If I'm not mistaken, it also seemed to be located in another part of the County, closer to his father-in-law's house, than to his fathers.  Check out the deed below.

This small piece of property of Henrys was located near the Concord Road. As there doesn't appear to have been any direct route from the old Davis property to Concord in such a way that the road would attain the name of the town, this road was not near there at all. Other signatures on the deed give a hint to where it was most likely located. Four signatures were shown on the document besides Henrys that were not the Clerk or Registrar. Those names were James Palmer, his father-in-law, Bailey Smith, his brother-in-law, James Sanders and Albert Smith. At this juncture, I can't verify who James Sanders or Albert Smith may have been. 

If the schoolhouse was near the homes of James Palmer and Bailey Smith, however, the location to a Concord Road might be discernable. 

This above late 1800's era map of Stanly and Cabarrus Counties shows no direct path between Albemarle and Concord, but we know from other records, that one existed. This map is also a little whacky-jawed my Mom would say, as Norwood was not that close to Albemarle and was actually located much further down the river, almost to the county 'toe''.  And Narrows was a bit further up and closer to the river. Copal Grove was also a little bit further north, while the location of Leo hasn't been exactly pinpointed, but around the Stanfield area, which puts it pretty close. 

The hunt for what schoolhouse this may have been is on. I'm guessing it may have roughly been in the area of where Old Parker Road reaches the current Concord Road. I take comfort in the fact that education seemed to be of great importance in my family that even in the wild years of the 1800's, they donated schools, at least two and possibly three, to the community. 

The Moves of Mary Mauldin

When I began digging a little deeper into my Atkins ancestry, I slammed right into my Freeman ancestry. Then before I knew it, I found myself back in the midst of my Smith ancestry, which I had all but given up on. This isn't the first, or only, time I've ran into myself. My family tree is a midling little Charlie Brown sort of tree, unfortunately.

Mary Ann "Polly" Smith Mauldin isn't just my ancestor, she is one of my "MEGA  ANCESTORS".

When I decided to take a lunge, and see what information could be garnered by taking the MtDNA test, which traces ones maternal heritiage from mother to grandmother to great-grandmother, ad infinitum, Family Tree DNA asked the question, "Who is the oldest ancestor you know of down your mother's line?" That would be Mary Smith Mauldin, and she's not that far back in time from myself. I've traced several paternal line ancestors back a respectible distance, but not so with this maternal line. There's been one nagging question in my mind, however. After the death of her husband, James O. Mauldin, Mary did not claim a dowery upon the land her husband left along Jacob's Creek, in the southern part of the county. She moved, along with her younger children, to an area north of the town of Albemarle, among a neighborhood of none other than a population of Smiths. 

It is my intention to explore that undertaking, as logically as possible, and explore this person, this Mega Mother of Mine, with the meager evidence that remains.

What do I mean by Mega Ancestor? Well, it means I carry more of her DNA than I do other ancestors from her place in time. My mothers mother was born Annie Maude Mauldin on August 2, 1909. She would marry a Davis and become the mother of four. 

Gramma in 1960, aged about 50.

Annie Maude Mauldin Davis was the daughter of  Walter Jonah Mauldin (1879-1930) and Wincie Ann Mauldin (1884-1964). Being widowed young, Wincie Ann Mauldin Mauldin remarried - to James William Mauldin aka Papaw Jim, (1886-1966). If that sounds like a lot of Mauldins in one sentence, that's because it is. 

Jonah and Wincie Mauldin and Family circa 1914

So another step up the maternal line we would go to the mother of Wincie Ann Mauldin. She was the daughter of  Frank Washington Mauldin (1850-1925) and Martha Catherine Margaret Russell (1848-1903). Finally a surname that is not Mauldin. Wincie had married her first cousin, though, Walter Jonah Mauldin, father of all of her children. His parents were James Duncan Mauldin (1842 -1909) and Margaret Winifred Solomon (1845-1910), but this isn't a straight up maternal line, but it is important because Frank and Duncan were brothers, sons of Thomas Alexander Mauldin (1821-1870) and wife, Mary "Polly" Blalock (1823-1882). Just keep that, or him, in mind. 

                                                Jim and Wincie Mauldin circa 1962

Back to the straight up maternal line, Martha Russell Mauldin. Martha Catherine Margaret Russell aka "Mattie", was the daughter of Eli Henry Russell and his wife, none other than Elizabeth Mauldin. I had thought Elizabeth was my oldest known female line ancestor until I found out who her parents were. Elizabeth was the oldest daughter of James O. Mauldin (1795-1847) and Mary A. "Polly" Smith Mauldin (1798-1865), making them my 4th Great Grandparents. Elizabeth had a brother, Thomas Alexander Mauldin, 'member' him?

Thomas Alexander Mauldin is my third Great Grandfather, twice over, because two of his sons, James Duncan Mauldin and Frank Washington Mauldin, are my second Great Grandfathers. This makes James O. and Mary Smith Mauldin my fourth Great Grandparents, not once, not twice, but three times! This is what makes Mary Smith Mauldin a MEGA-ancestor, more contributive to my genetics than just a regular ancestor. 

Female ancestors are usually more difficult to trace than male ancestors, and Mary is no exception, so I have to go back to her husband to find any early trace of her. James O. Mauldin was born in Chatham County, NC on May 20, 1795. He was the son of Clairbourne Mauldin and his wife, Sarah Dowd. He would have had to travel south and west about 75 miles to end up where he would settle down in what is now Stanly County. 

He first appears, to my knowledge, in the 1830 census. He's in West Pee Dee, listed in his 30's, and he would have been 35. He is listed with a wife in her 40's, which makes me wonder if he may have had a first wife, or if this was an error. Mary Mauldin would have been only 32. If he had an older wife, early on, and had remarried, it seems like he would have married a younger woman. We may never know, however, I'm standing on that it was probably an error. His name is sandwiched in between Richmond McDaniel and Henry Marshall, yet he's not far from another of my ancestors, Samuel P. Morton, who was living on David's Creek, and next to William Lee, whom I have all been researching, and he also lived in this area just north of the current town of Norwood. So this is likely the Jacob's Creek area he is in. 

In the 1840 census, James Mauldin is listed in between Thomas Rice and Nelson Pennington. He's not far from Robert Smith, who near the end of his life lived near Morrow Mountain. This seems to have been a rather random listing, as Hezekiah Herrin is not far, who was known to live near the Stanly/Cabarrus line not far from Mount Pleasant, Daniel Sides, who was also in the western end of the county and Alexander Biles, who lived near the current town of New London. 

James O. Mauldin recieved a land grant for 100 acres on Jacobs Creek on January 13, 1842. 

"Pursuant to a Warrant No. 45 surveyed for James Mauldin 100 acres of land on the waters of Jacobs Creek adjoining his own lands Beginning at the said Mauldins corner stake in a drain and Henry Shankles line." 

It was signed by W. H. Randle, Surveryor and "CC", or chain carriers were Thomas Mauldin, and Archibald Mauldin, sons of James O. Mauldin. Thomas would have been about 21 and Archibald, 15.

Jacob's Creek is a stream that flows between Hwy 52 and Indian Mound Road and into the Pee Dee River north of Norwood, NC and southeast of Albemarle, NC.  I don't know who Jacob's Creek was named for, but as it has that name in very old records, I can assume it was a very early settler upon the creek. 

Stanly County was formed from the side of Montgomery County that was located on the west side of the PeeDee River, in 1841. A tax listing was taken that very same year and James Mauldin was listed as having held 300 acres on Lick Branch and Jacobs Creek. The property was evaluated at $150 with 35 acres under cultivation and 200 unimproved, or meaning, wooden, uncleared and uncultivated. He was a yeoman farmer, keeping just enough property cultivated that he could handle with the help of his sons. 

The James Mauldin Cemetery is located off of McNeil Rd, which connects Hwy 52,  seen meandering in a north to south gallivant, and Indian Mound Rd., seen in the top eastern corner of the map. This puts the cemetery exactly where the land grant would have been.

Photo of cemetery from distance by John V. Burns 2010

James Mauldin didn't live long after recieving the land grant. He was probably the first body planted in the abandoned ground that now bears his name, unless there were litle ones he and Mary lost first. The tombstone for James states he was born in March of 1795 and died in June of 1849, aged 53 years and 9 months. A Family Bible held by his twin brother, Benjamin Mauldin, gave their birthdates as May 2, 1795.

The estate was settled in February of 1848. Mary had to sue the administrator of the estate, and the heirs, her own children, in order to claim her widow's dower, and support for her minor children still at home.

The estate settlement came in waves. The first papers were dated February 2, 1848. In the Stanly County Court of Pleas and Quarters, in the August session of 1850, Mary Mauldin was appointed guardian of  James, Benjamin, Eliza, Parham and Franklin Mauldin, her minor childen, giving a $200 bond, with John Mauldin, Thomas Mauldin and John F. Stone, as securities. John and Thomas were her adult sons.

Also in the same session of court, Benjamin Ivy, John R. Ivy, Henry Shankle and Abram J.Shankle, Esq., were appointed a committee to settle the estate of James Mauldin, deceased, with Administrators John F. Stone and Archibald Mauldin, Archibald being another adult son. 

James O. Mauldin's second estate file is found dated 1858, a decade later than the first. 

"Mrs. Mary Mauldin guardian of the minor heirs of James Mauldin, deceased, In Acct with her wards".

To amount returned to Nov. sessions 1858 $56.97.

Cr amount paid to Parham Mauldin for this report $28.28 1/2.

The third estate file for James O. Mauldin is dated 1862. This one has a widow named Sarah, and is not the estate of James O. Sr., but James O. Mauldin, Jr., his son. 

Name	Mary Mauldin
Gender	Female
Race	White
Residence Age	52
Birth Date	abt 1798
Birthplace	North Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Freemans, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Occupation	Farmer
Industry	Agriculture
Real Estate	100
Line Number	7
Dwelling Number	125
Family Number	126

Household members

Name	Age
Mary Mauldin	52
James Mauldin	19
Mary Mauldin	21
Benjamin Mauldin	17
Eliza Mauldin	15
Parham Mauldin	12
Franklin Mauldin	8

In 1850, the widow Mary Mauldin is running a farm in Freemans District, Stanly County. She is 52 years old with six children still at home, James, 19, Mary, 21, Benjamin, 17, Eliza, 15, Parham, 12 and Franklin, 8.

A different view identifies her neighbors.

The page begins with Mauldins, so I want to start on the page before this one. 

Household 120 The family of Washington Thompson.

Household 121 William Solomon.

Household 122 David Laton.

Household 123 John (30) and Sarah (40) Mauldin, son of Mary, with children; Mary E. 9, Martha 7, James H. 5, William P. 1 and Lucy Carter, Sarah's sister, 29, boarding with them.

Household 124 Archibald Mauldin, 24 and Mary, 23, another son of Mary and James O. Mauldin, with Joseph I. Mauldin just 1 month old. 

Household 125 is Mary Mauldin, aged 52, widow of James O. Mauldin, with son James Jr., 19, Mary, 21, Benjamin 17, Eliza 15, Parham 12, and Dowd Franklin 8. 

Household 127 is Henry Shankle.

Household 128 is Abram P. Ross.

Household 129 is Catherine Thompson, 130 William S, Swaringen, 131 William C. Thompson, 132 Frances Hobble, 133 George Shankle. These are the neighbors and the area where James O. Mauldin had obtained his land grant.

Over the course of the next decade, the years following the passing of James O. Mauldin several events occured. Despite the fact that the actual document declaring the division of the property of  James O. Mauldin, Sr., we can know that it had existed, as several other transfers and sales of property between his heirs make mention of it. 

Dated July 17, 1849 and found in the Stanly County, NC Register of deeds in Book 4 Page 104, Thomas A. Mauldin sells to his brother Archibald C. Mauldin, for $50 "a tract belonging to the estate of James Mauldin decd'.  He sold his rights to property in the estate and lands of James Mauldin, including the widows dower, to Archibald.

Then there is a deed dated May 12, 1857 between Henry Russell and Eliza Russell 'his wife' on one part and Parham Mauldin, 'executor of  A.C. Mauldin, deceased". It was an exchange between Henry Russell, and his wife, Eliza Mauldin Russell, concerning her right to a 9th of the property and Parham, representing their brother Archibald Claiborne Mauldin's right to his share of their father's estate.

"all our right title interest and claim in three hundred acres of land belonging to James Mauldin dest (sic) including the lifetime dower of Mary Mauldin widow of the said James Mauldin decd being an undivided interest of one ninth part of the land lying & being in the aforesaid County of Stanly on the waters of Jacobs Creek adjoining the lands of Henry Shankle Senr and others."

In Book 4 page 421 Parham Mauldin sells to his brother, James Mauldin (Jr.), for $50.00,  his interest in the lands of James Mauldin decd....consisting of  one ninth part of same. It is mentioned inside the deed "for meets and bounds reference may be made to a deed made by John Rummage to said James for 300 acres also 20 acres devised to me by the last will and testament of A. C. Mauldin to be laid off out of the land the said A. C. Mauldin decd. " was entitled to in the undivided interest in the lands of his deceased father, James O. Mauldin.

It is very clear now, that at the time of his death, James O. Mauldin was the father of 9 children; John Wesley Mauldin, Thomas Alexander Mauldin, Archibald Claiborn Mauldin, Mary Ellen Mauldin, James O. Mauldin, Jr., Benjamin Mauldin, Eliza Mauldin Russell, Parham Mauldin and Dowd Franklin Mauldin. This group is not without its mysteries. 

This last deed was between Mary Allen Mauldin, the widow of Archibald Mauldin and her neighbor, J. R. Ivey.

Book 4 Page 432  Mary Mauldin to J. R. Ivey

'This Indenture made this 12th day of September A.D.  1860 between Mary Maulden of the County of Stanly and State of North Carolina of the one part. .....John R. Ivey....one dollar paid in hand...the following property to wit, All my life estate or interest in the lands of my deceased husband A. C. Maulden, lying on the waters of Jacob's Creek, adjoining the lands of James Maulden, Deced., F. A. Laton and others containing Two hundred acres more or less, five head of hogs, three head of cattle, my present crop of corn & fodder, and also the crop wheat oats corn & C now sowing or to be sowed and planted during the present season of sowing and the next season for planting, one cupboard, and lot of planks, Together with all the increase...".

Mary was in debt and listed her debts, a note to Henry Shankle, another to Daniel Freeman, another to G. I. Swaringen and $6.25 to her brother, Asbury S. Allen., and had sold all her worth to John R. Ivy. 

In the course of a decade Mary Smith Mauldin had lost three children.

John Wesley Mauldin had died September 10, 1857.

Archibald Clabourne Mauldin also died some time in 1856, his Will probated on January 16, 1857.

Eliza Mauldin Russell died on November 14, 1857. 

1860

The 1860 census, taken on the 4th of July by James M. McCorkle, found Mary Smith Mauldin with the following household.

Name	Mary Maulden
Age	62
Birth Year	abt 1798
Gender	Female
Race	White
Home in 1860	Stanly, North Carolina
Post Office	Albemarle
Dwelling Number	621
Family Number	628
Occupation	Farmer
Real Estate Value	350
Personal Estate Value	275
Cannot Read, Write	Y
Inferred Child	Frank Maulden; Elizabeth Maulden

Household members

Name	Age
Mary Maulden	62
Frank Maulden	20
Elizabeth Maulden	5
Ellen Smith	21
Mary F Smith	1

Mary was now 62, her youngest son, Dowd Franklin "Frank" Mauldin, was 20. Elizabeht Mauldin, age 5 was actually, Mary Elizabeth Russell, daughter of Mary's daughter, Eliza Mauldin Russell. I have not yet solved the mystery of who Ellen Smith, 21 and Mary F. Smith age 1, probably Ellen's daughter, were. 

Mary's daughter, Mary Jr., is only seen in the 1850 census. I believe she may have married, as she was one of the 9 heirs of her father and maybe somewhere there is explained what happened with her 9th share, maybe passed to a grandchild, child of Mary, or listed as a portion to a husband. There is not a tombstone in the Mauldin cemetery for her. Maybe, although the age is off a little, which is not unpresented, Ellen Smith was actually Mary Ellen Mauldin. 

A different look shows that Mary had Henry Byrd for a neighbor, and that son Parham was living near her with his young family. Next in the list was Green Smith, followed by his mother, Lovina Smith, widow of John, followed by Bailey Smith. Having already looked into Bailey Smith, as he had married into my Palmer familly, I quickly realized that while some of her children and grandchildren were living back on the lands of James O. Mauldin, Mary had moved. Mary had moved in amongst the cluster of Smiths that I have been researching, along Town Creek and off the Salisbury Road, north of Albemarle. She was no longer on Jacob's Creek.

The widow's of some of Mary and James Mauldins deceased sons would continue to raise their families on the property of Jacobs Creek.

In 1870, Mary Allen Mauldin, widow of Archibald C. Mauldin is seen living with Henry Shankle, noted in estate and land records as a long time neighbor of James O. Mauldin, his property and sons. Not far from this household, is listed that of Sarah Mauldin, at the very bottom of the page, carrying over to the next, to her children, Parham, 17, Nancy 15, Abram 13 and Eliza, 11. They were living next to J. R. Ivey, who is listed in one of the above deeds as buying the property of Mary Allen Mauldin. 

So while family stayed on Jacob's Creek, why did Mary Smith Mauldin move with her youngest children all the way over to the other side of Albemarle to live among the Smiths? Could her middle name have had anything to do with it? In my heart, I believe it did. I get the feeling that she had moved among family, that these Smith's were Mary's Smiths. I can't tell how, at this point, and possibly never will. I'm hoping DNA can help solve this one, if anything, or anyone, can. 

Mary's children, to the best of my knowledge, and at this point were: 

John Wesley Mauldin(1820 -1857)  who married Sarah A. Carter.

Thomas Alexander Mauldin (1821 - bef 1900) Married Mary "Polly" Blalock.

Archibald Claiborn Mauldin (1827 - before 1860) Married Mary Allen.

Mary E. (Ellen?) Mauldin ( 1829 -unknown) Married  - unknown.

James O. Mauldin Jr. (1831 -1862) Married Sarah Ross.

Benjamin R. Mauldin (1833 - before 1900) Married Annie Margaret Rummage.

Eliza Mauldin (1835 -1857) Married William Henry Russell.

Parham Mauldin (1838 - 1877) Married Caroline Jane Huntley.

Dowd Franklin Mauldin (1842-1861) Married Temperance. Research ongoing.

Mary A. "Polly" Smith did not live long past this last census and did not make it to see 1870.  She was buried in the old James O. Mauldin Cemetery off of McNeil Road with her husband and other family members. The description of the cemetery says that it "sits way back in the fields, in a small clump of old Holly, Oak and Cedar trees. Grown up and neglected." This explorer counted 29 fieldstones, many of them either unmarked or illegible. He also noted that there appeared to be may more unmarked graves.In the book, "These Hallowed Grounds" published in 2012 by the Stanly County Genealogical Society, 12 marked stones and 10 unmarked stones were recorded. 

Among those marked and preserved was that of matriarch, Polly Mauldin, wife of James Mauldin (Sr), died (illegible) aged about 70 year.  As the census records in which she appeared gave her a year of birth of about 1798, being aged 70 would have given her a year of death of about 1868. Other marked, and preserved graves, were that of her husband, James O. Mauldin, Sr. , her daughter, Eliza Mauldin Russell, who died November 14, 1857, age 22 years, 2 months and 26 days, son John Mauldin, stone dated 1861, but his probate records suggest a date several years earlies. Also buried here was Sarah Mauldin, died June 1, 1882, a daughter-in-law and youngest son, Dowd Franklin Mauldin, who died in 1860, and known to be buried here, but his stone no longer survives. A. C. Mauldin is buried there, with a number of grandchildren, who died as infants or toddlers, a J. O. Mauldin born June 1 1860 and died Nov. 8, 1863, an M. Mauldin born August 8, 1872 and  died in 1874, an A. E. who lived from 1857 to 1863. Other graves just give years, 1857-1857 or initials, like T. M. who died in 185?

How quickly we can slide into obscurity, living only in the memories of those who loved us, until they too are gone. 

The 9 heirs of James O. Mauldin and Mary Smith are full of stories and mysteries of their own. I can't fully list them and their children until I do more research. Several early deaths left several of the families fragmented, and their fates unknown. More to come. 

Bailey Francis Smith

Bailey Francis Smith was the son-in-law of my 4th Great Grandfather James Palmer.

I believe if we just look at Bailey, he tells us exactly who he is. Not only that, he may help solve two other mysteries in my family trees involving Smith's, like the origins of Mary Smith Mauldin, and maybe which Smith Mary Davis, daughter of Henry Davis and Martha Palmer Davis, married. Bailey had married Mary Palmer, daughter of James and Martha Atkins Palmer, and sister of Martha Palmer Davis. This family, like many others I've researched in the past, liked keeping it in the family. 

The leading graphic is a transcription of the Will of Bailey F. Smith, dated July 10, 1872. He wanted the proceeds of the sale of his property to be divided between three people, Bailey Francis Blalock, his namesake, Mary Elizabeth Blalock and Willis Jones Blalock, 'heirs of William C Blalock.'  These three were the children of Martha Elizabeth Smith, who had married William C. Blalock, and were his niece and nephews.

He also made reference of another sister, Margaret Smith Dry, a widow of Daniel Dry. These were not his only siblings, nieces or nephews, but only the ones he felt needed his aid. 

Bailey first appears, for certain, in the 1840 census of Montgomery County, NC, the year before 'West Pee Dee' becomes Stanly County.

Name	Bailey Smith
Residence Date	1840
Home in 1840 (City, County, State)	West Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9	1 Edward
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29	1 Bailey
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29	1 Mary Palmer Smith
Persons Employed in Agriculture	1
Free White Persons - Under 20	1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49	2
Total Free White Persons	3
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves	3

He is shown as a man in his 20's, a wife in her 20's and one male between 5 and 9. These were easy to identify. They were himself, his wife, Mary Palmer Smith, sister to my Martha Palmer Davis, and their son, Edward Palmer Smith.

Name	Baily Smith
Gender	Male
Race	White
Residence Age	42
Birth Date	abt 1808
Birthplace	North Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Freemans, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Occupation	Farmer
Industry	Agriculture
Real Estate	600
Line Number	38
Dwelling Number	202
Family Number	203
Inferred Spouse	Mary Smith
Inferred Child	Edward Smith

Household members

Name	Age
Baily Smith	42
Mary Smith	41
Edward Smith	17

In 1850, you can see them by name. But look at the actual script and check out the line up.

Bailey's family is next to the household of 56 year old Elizabeth Smith, and there is Margaret, 23, his sister. Above them, is the family of James Smith, 44, and Joseph Pickler above that and John Smith above them.

So let's dive into the land records during this decade to see what is going on and possibly how these folks relate. We'll start in 1851, and then we are going to back up a little bit. In Stanly County Deed Book 3, Page 129, William H. Randle to B. F. Smith dated the 3rd day of October, 1851.

"Between John Ward, Jeremiah Adderton, James Adderton of the County of Davidson and Daniel Freeman of Stanly County of the one part and Bailey F. Smith of the County of Stanly of the other part........for the sum of $140 paid in hand by Bailey F. Smith.......tract of land in Stanly County.....(not trying to locate it so the sweet gum trees and chain and corner post don't matter)  2 post oaks D. Freemans corner of his 127 acres tract.....near Dr Smith's house.........Joseph Picklers line.........280 acres more or less....  In the presence of J. O. Ross.....signed by John Ward, Jeremiah Adderton, Daniel Freeman, James Adderton by W. H. Randle, attorney.

So you can see above, Bailey Smith, and other Smiths, are living near Joseph Pickler already. So the next year, he purchased a tract that bordered Joseph Pickler, and also bordered Daniel Freeman's property. Daniel Freeman, a merchant, owned several properties upon which he did not live, but acquired likely through debts and investments. But there is also something interesting in family lore concerning Daniel Freeman.

Book 3 Page 119 Bayley F. Smith to John G. Forrest dated 24 November, 1851, one month after the above document.for the sum of $550....sold a tract of land....descriptions fitting exactly to the deed mentioned above in Book 3, page 129...bordering Joseph Pickler and containing 280 acres.

Those really don't tell us much, but the next one is a kicker....

Elizabeth Smith and others to James Smith

'Know all men by these presents that we Elizabeth Smith, M Smith, W Blalock B Smith AC Smith AF Atkins R Smith & D Freeman are held and firmly bounden unto James Smith in the sum of $500 to which payment we bind ourselves and each of our heirs executors and administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents signed with our hands and seals the the  (blank) day of  (blank) 1848.

........James Smith as executor of the last Will and Testament of William Smith decd late of Stanly County......delivered to .....Elizabeth Smith.....papers belonging to the estate of William Smith...whereas James Smith purchased of  William Smith during his lifetime a certian tract of land situated in the county...which said James Smith executed an agreement in writing payable to....William Smith and all of the above bounden Elizabeth Smith jointly a part of which tract of land is said to be covered by another claim or title called the Big Survey.......if.....Elizabeth shall faithfully & truley save  harmless & indemify to ..James Smith from all loss......by delivering to Elizabeth the papers belonging to the estate of William Smith .....which may hereafter be effected against him by the elements....of the Big Survey on this tract of land purchased by him of ..William Smith....then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and effect. 

                                                                                                   Elizabeth Smith (her mark)

                                                                                                   Margaret Smith (her mark)

                                                                                                   William Blalock 

                                                                                                   AC Smith

                                                                                                    Bailey Smith

                                                                                                   Arthur F. Atkins

                                                                                                   Robert Smith

                                                                                                   Daniel Freeman

Attest

John J Freeman

 

Registered Feby 9th 1852 by the oath of  John J. Freeman

This deed is clear, but then again, it's not. Who was William Smith?

He left a will in 1845, naming his widow, Elizabeth, his daughters, Mary and Margaret, and names his son, James, as executor. In the above list then, is his widow, Elizabeth, his daughter, Margaret, followed by William Blalock, who married Mary Smith, so, a son-in-law. Then, A. C. Smith, Bailey Smith, Arthur F. Atkins, Robert Smith and Daniel Freeman. I know that Arthur F. Atkins was a cousin of Bailey Smiths wife, Mary Palmer, but I don't know yet exactly how or why he would be included in this group, in this document. And Daniel Freeman? This one is a real mystery, but on closer look, Robert Smith married Polly Freeman, then you have Arthur Freeman Atkins, then Daniel Freeman. Is there any meaning to that coincidence?

There exists a Smith DNA project, and the above mentioned William Smith is part of the DNA project. 

William Smith

b c 1755 NC

d Mar 1845 Stanly NC

NC Soldier

DAR A106108 

He is estimated to have been born about 1755 and died in Stanly County in 1845, 90 years old. A copy of his will is included, which names his son, James as Executor, his wife Elizabeth, and his two daughters, Margaret and Martha. He served in the Revolutionary War and is assigned a DAR number. William is a post of his own. For this moment, however,  I just want to report that this William , was not  William "Billy" Smith of Cabarrus County, who lived about the same time,  and was also in the DNA study. This William died in Stanly County, was married to Elizabeth, and has two Genetically proven lines attached to him, Robert Smith and Littleton Smith.

I know nothing of Littleton Smith, and he very well may have died before his father, but he left a straight line of male descendants. As did Robert Smith, who is mentioned in the above document. Robert outlived William Smith by a few years, passing away in 1848, in Stanly County. He left a will naming 10 children:

Parham Smith

Alsey Smith

Tabitha (or Tobitha) Nash, wife of Edmund Nash

Wincy Snuggs, wife of Richmond G. Snuggs

Martha Bell, wife of Jonathan Bell

Children of deceased son Henry Smith

Archibald Smith

Children of deceased daughter, Elizabeth Calloway, wife of John Calloway, excepting her son, Robert.

Heirs of son John, deceased

Daughter Nancy Kendall, wife of Elums Kendall

So there explains AC Smith, or does it? I believe there may have been an older AC Smith. Another thing that makes one go Hmmm, Daniel Freeman also had a son named Archibald C. Freeman. Given the fact that Robert Smith married Polly Freeman.....another connection? Like William, Robert deserves a closer look, but this post is about Bailey.

Bailey Smith names the two daughters, Margaret and Martha, of William Smith in his will, naming him as his sisters. So if Bailey Smith was a son of William Smith, why was he not mentioned in the Will, and why is he not represented in the DNA test? 

1) He didn't mention Robert or Littleton either.

2) James, who he did mention, is not in the DNA lineage either, which is a males only test.

William appears to have named only his youngest children in his will, as it was their care and well-being he wanted to ensure. His widow Elizabeth was also obviously not old enough to have been the mother of all of his children. She was a much younger, and later, wife. There may have even been more than two. 

But I know why Bailey Smith did not show up in the list of descent from a Y-DNa study.

Edward Palmer Smith

Bailey Smith and Mary Palmer Smith had one child, Edward Palmer Smith. I find the following two records of him in the land records.

Edward P Smith's Grant No 59

State of NC Know ye that for the sum of $5 for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into our Treasury by Edward P. Smith.....a tract of land containing 100 acres on Camp Branch of Mountain Creek, adjoining William Smiths and Joseph Picklers line ...beginning at Joseph Picklers corner......50 links to William Smiths corner....Entered 15th day of December 1841...witness John M. Morehead...Recorded 21st Feb. 1845.

Now, Edward was very young when recieving this grant, but I've seen it before. His granted land met that of William, (his grandfather?), and Joseph Pickler. If one was to scroll back up to the 1850 census, you will see Joseph Pickler, followed by James Smith, followed by Elizabeth Smith, widow of William, followed by Bailey Smith, his wife Mary and son Edward P. Smith.

January 15th 1852 Allen Ross to Edward P Smith for $135 ,beginning at a white oak, containing 129 acres. Witnessed by P. W. Wooley and AC Freeman. Registered the 8th of February 1853.

But by the 1860 census,  Bailey is a widower. Both Mary and Edward have died.

Name	Baily F Smith
Age	51
Birth Year	abt 1809
Gender	Male
Race	White
Birth Place	North Carolina
Home in 1860	Stanly, North Carolina
Post Office	Albemarle
Dwelling Number	624
Family Number	633
Occupation	Farmer
Real Estate Value	3000
Personal Estate Value	14000

Household members

Name	Age
Lovina Smith	65
Eliza Smith	40
Camoline Smith	16
Baily F Smith	51

He is living next to Lovina Smith, widow of John Smith, with Green Smith above them. More about that later.

There are more land records that sort of build a map of connections, and a picture of what was happening in the life of Bailey Smith, and the other Smiths. Backing up to 1842, there are a few transactions I want to look at.

On November 9th, 1842, William Smith,  (three years before his death), sold to James Smith, (his son who would become this executor), for $400, 'parts of several tracts of land'.....on the waters of Mountain Creek, joining the lands of Robert Smith, Archy Smith, Joseph Pickler, and others. "Beginning on a post oak on the top of a mountain" ...corner of a 60 acres tract that runs with Smith's line...Joseph Picklers line....Robert Smiths line...opposite the center of the mountain...containing 200 acres .signed William Smith, John F Miller, witness, Samuel P. Morton , Registrar.

April 25th, 1843 Bailey Smith to James Palmer:

Bailey was 'Justly indebited ' to James Palmer, his father-in-law, in the sum of $36.92 1/2 cents. Being honestly 'desirous' to prevent James Palmer from suffering loss, Bailey, secured property to David Kendall 'for one dollar in hand', a Bay horse, a Bay Filly, 5 head of cattle, 8 hogs, one sheep, 3 beds and matching furniture, one large table, one small table, and various tools, tubs, chairs, looms, saddles and tack... until Bailey satisfies  judgement...etc. Signed Baily Smith, James Palmer and David Kendall.

Stanly County Court of Pleas and Quarters

November Session 1844

Elisha and William Smith to James Smith, proved by Bailey Smith.

June 6, 1846 Bailey Smith to James Smith

For $5.00 paid in hand by James to Bailey 'a certain tract of land on which Bailey now resides...trees..corner of the 60 acre tract.'  There is a mention of a Marburys line, and the lot running along Mountain Creek. "Whereas the said James Smith has become security for the prosecution of a suit now pending in Superior Court of Stanly' where Bailey was the plaintiff and his father-in-law James Palmer and brother-in-law Henry Davis, were the defendants. Bailey had married Mary Palmer and Henry had married Martha Palmer. The land was subject to a $20 lein of sorts, that Bailey owed Atlas J. Dargan. Signed by Bailey Smith, Witnessed by A. C. Freeman, Davidson Hearne was Clerk, Samuel P. Morton, Registrar.

Side note: Maybe why I am so tied to the land, three of the above names, Samuel Morton, James Palmer and Henry Davis, are my direct ancestors.

September 23rd, 1847  Bailey Smith to James Huckabee

For one dollar in hand to James Huckabee, Bailey recieved a loan on some personal property, a few horses, three cows, 12 hogs, four sheep, 150 bushels of corn, and his kitchen furniture. James and Brittain Huckabee secured a note of Baileys. There is mention of a note owed to Eben Hearne,  and a bill owed to the company of Daniel Freeman and Son. Signed by Bailey and James Huckabee, and Witnessed by John O. Ross. D Hearne, Clerk, S. P. Morton , Registrar.

Mountain Creek farm in the West Pee Dee Uwharrie range

Bailey seems to have gotten himself in a bit of debt. That may have been why he had his young son to apply for a Grant. It continued into the 1850's...

Bailey F. Smith to Henry Marshall, Esq., March 5, 1852

This time, five years later, Bailey had improved his situation somewhat. He listed two wagons, one buggy, three Horses, 8 hogs, five cows, 20 barrels of corn, 35 bushels of wheat, followed by all the legal swelling and twisting. Signed by B. F. Smith and witnesses by Atlas J. Dargon. 

During the 1850's, the decade in which he lost his wife and his son, Bailey Smith seemed to pick up speed.

Valentines Day, 1859 Reuben Harris to B F Smith:

Bailey paid $600 to Reuben Harris for property on Mountain Creek, called the 'old Harris tract', containing 200 acres. Signed by Reuben Harris and witnessed by W. H. Randle and J. C. Fry. This property was nowhere near where he was living, he was expanding his holdings.

March 2, 1861 Joseph Marshall to Bailey F. Smith:

Bailey paid $147 to Joseph Marshall for a tract of land that began at a stake on the Southside of Naked Mountain in Martin Rushs' line. It ran with Rushs' line to a high-land pond, then to the corner of an old  200 acre tract referred to as the Shankle tract. It continued meeting Reuben Harris's line, John J. Freeman's line, Thomas Biles line, to a 'large pine in the old stand on the north side of Naked Mountain'. It contained 346 acres. So Bailey Smith had just bought a part of Morrow Mountain, as Naked Mountain would become to be known. It was noted that it had passed to Joseph Marsall by Biles, trustee of James Boysworth.

A photo of Naked Mountain before it was named Morrow, from the Stanly County Museum Collection

Let's see what else we may be able to discover.

1860 Census 

In this cross section of the 1860 census Henry Bird leads the lineup.  There were cross marriages in between the Bird and Smith families.

Next, Mary Mauldin - to be exact - Mary Smith Mauldin - aged 62, with her son , Frank, in the household. A 5 year old Elizabeth, lived with them. Who was she? A grandchild, perhaps? Then 21 year old Ellen Smith and 1 year old Mary F. Smith. This looks likd a mother and infant. Who were they? Was she an Ellen Mauldin Smith tragically widowed young? No one seems to know. Where did she come from and where did she go? There must be some hints here.

Next, Parham Mauldin, another son of Mary. Robert Smith also had a son named Parham.

Green Smith, with wife Mary and small children.

Lovina Smith, whom we know from the 1850 census, is the widow of John.

Then lastly, Bailey F. Smith, age 51, and alone. 

That's a long list of Smith and Smith relatives. Too much for coincidence? 

Bailey makes a few more significant purchases in the 1860's. Remember, of course, the country and state were in turmoil and  chaos at this time. The news of death came often. Crops lie neglected in the fields. Widows and orphans abound. People were starving, desperate.

January 26, 1867 Britton H. Huckabee to Bailey F. Smith:

Britton was in debt to Bailey, (quite a reversal from 20 years prior). One note of $25.50 was due in February. Another for $160.85 from February of 1865, another of $16.00 that was overdue, a year late, and another for $100.25 dated April of 1861, that R. Harris was security due to Daniel Freeman. Yet another note for $10.00 due in 1866 to Bailey,  and lastly a note  payable to John O. and W. J. Ross for $89.21. To cover his debts, he sold to Bailey the land he lived on constisting of 250 acres adjoining the lands of A. C. Smith and W. McAlester on Camp Branch. Also, a mule, a cow, 13 sheep, 9 hogs, household and kitchen items and a crop wheat and corn, a two-horse wagon, harnesses and farming tools. Signed by Britton and Bailey, and witnessed by AC Smith.

November 25, 1867 W. F. Nash to B. F. Smith:

For $60,  W.F. Nash sold to Bailey F. Smith,  a tract of land that sounds like it started at a tract Bailey had bought in the 1850's, at a stake on the south side of of a "Nob" on Naked Mountain (now Morrow Mountain) in Martin Rushes lines. It met the corner of the old 200 acre Shankle tract. It met Bailey's 150 acres tract, JJ Freemans' property, Thomas Biles, now R. S. Nashes line, back to the north side of Naked Mountain, containing  346 acres. Yes,  that sounds familiar. Signed Whitson F. and Nancy J. Nash. Witnesses by John W. Morton.

William Charles Blalock, born about 1825, was the son of William David Blalock, Jr. and wife Patsy Dennis. He is also my 3rd Great Granduncle as I am descended from his sister, Mary "Polly" Blalock, who married Thomas Alexander Mauldin, son of the above mentioned Mary Smith Mauldin. W. C. Blalock married Martha Smith, sister of Bailey F. Smith and daughter of William and Elizabeth Smith.  On June 3, 1863, W. C. Blalock became a casualty of the Civil War, dying in Lynchburg, Virginia at the age of  38. 

To begin with, Arthur Freeman Atkins was appointed the Guardian for the minor children of W. C. Blalock in February Term of Court, 1865. There's that name again! He had previously been named guardian a William Kirk, heir of George, in 1845. 

Martha Elizabeth "Patsey" Smith Blalock would pass away in 1868, leaving the children as complete orphans. Bailey F. Smith then became guardian of the younger three, his namesake, Bailey Francis Blalock, Mary Elizabeth , and Willis Jones Blalock.

1870 

 The census is a bit different this year. The formerly enslaved individuals, who had always lived among them, are now listed by name, the ones who remained. As families were broken into pieces, the surviving individuals were redistributed.

The following listing begins with a John Hinson family, who has 25 year old Robert Smith, a farm hand, black, living with them. Then another African American family, that, Allen Freeman. J. W. Pickler appears where Joseph Pickler was, followed by the household of Bailey Smith. He had purchased property around the Naked Morrow Mountain, but he was not living on it. 

Bailey's household was broken in half by the pages. He was now 61 years old. He had taken in a 4 year old little girl named Rebecca Kirk, an African American. She is followed by 70 year old Elizabeth Smith, whom by now I have deduced was most likely his stepmother. After Elizabeth is her daughter, Margaret Smith Dry, named in Bailey's will as his sister. Following Margaret are the three Blalock children, children of W. C. and Martha Smith Blalock: Bailey 18, Mary 14 and Jones 11. The next household in the line is that of Arthur Freeman Atkins, whom I know at this point was a first cousin of Bailey's wife, Mary Palmer Smith. Rev. Atkins has now taken in a young widow, Mary Kirk and her young son, Charles.

1880

Name	B. F. Smith
Age	72
Birth Date	Abt 1808
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1880	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
House Number	3
Dwelling Number	240
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Self (Head)
Marital Status	Widower
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Occupation	Farmer
Neighbors	View others on page

Household members

Name	Age
B. F. Smith	72
Marget Dry	40
Jones Blalock	22

Bailey is now 72 and growing tired. His household now consists only of himself, his youngest half-sister, Margaret Dry, widow of Daniel Dry and the youngest of his nieces and nephews by his other half-sister, Martha Blalock, Jones. 

Bailey Francis Smith died two years later at about 74 years old. His will was probated on July 10, 1882. He must have seen the shadow of the sheath. After the typical admission of sanity and coherance, he requests a decent burial and his debts paid, "if any",and notes due him collected, "the many".  He requests his Executor to sell almost all of his properties, and distribute the proceeds between Bailey Francis Blalock, Mary Elizabeth Blalock and Willis Jones Blalock, heirs of W. C. Blalock. He states that his sister,  Margaret Dry, widow of Daniel Dry, is to have a home on his property as long as she remains a widow. Lastly, he appoints " my trusty and worthy nephew Bailey Francis Blalock" as Executor.

The will is certified on January 16, 1883 by A. C. Freeman.

The estate papers reveal nothing out of the ordinary. He seemed solidly middle-class for the era, not wealthy but well-suited. Buyers seen most often were neighbors and relatives, T. A. Fesperman, Moses Stoker, Thomas and W. H. Russell, Margaret Dry, M Rush, Isom Davis, Sandy Burns, Martin Bird, John F. Lilly, Jackson Underwood and James Neal.

The one mystery was how  Minty Stokes , or Stoker,  wife of Moses, an Heir. She was not mentioned in the Will. Who was she?

On the flipside, I  was able to access a part of the DAR records of Patriot William Smith, who died in Stanly County, NC in 1845. D. A. R. lineages must be proven by documentation, which is sometimes difficult to do, but some years ago, a Mrs. Hathcock had proven her decent from William Smith and his wife, first wife, Elizabeth Bailey. 

She was the daughter of Edward J. Freeman, born 1851, died 1917, and Winnie Smith (1844-1910).

Winnie was the daughter of A.C. Smith, seen mentioned several times in this post.

Archibald Smith, born about 1804, was the son of Robert Smith (1780-1848) and Polly Freeman (1785-1840).

Robert was the son of William Smith circa 1755 to 1845 and Elizabeth Bailey Smith, circa 1758. Second wife said by some to be Elizabeth York.

Could this be the family of Mary Smith Mauldin? Why did she move up with them in the more northern part of the County after her husband, James, died, from Jacobs Creek in the south? Could this family still hold the clues of which Smith Mary Davis married? Are they all tied back in to my Freeman ancestors, Arthur Freeman, father of Charlotte Freeman who married Peter Winfield? I fully believe so. Family Lore has it that Daniel Freeman, merchant, was her nephew or Great Nephew, called 'a relation' in some old papers of Neddy Davis. 

I do not know where Bailey F. Smith, 'husband of (my) 4th great aunt' is buried, but I believe he is much more than that connection. If you look closely at Bailey Smith, I believe he tells us exactly who he was.