My interest in Ephraim Starnes began with the following census record, wherein Ephraim is shown as a farm laborer in the Byrum household where my 14 year old third Great-Grandmother, Mary Louise Byram Starnes, was living. This search leads my search for the next generation, the parents of Mary Louise Byram.
Name:Ephraim Starner [Ephraim Starnes] Age:28Birth Year:abt 1822Birthplace:North CarolinaHome in 1850:Union, North CarolinaGender:MaleFamily Number:956Household Members:
Ephraim would marry Nancy Holden, daughter of Samuel Holden who passed away in 1848. Her stepmother Sarah petitioned the court and named the property as adjoining that of William Byrom.
By 1860, Ephraim and Nancy are shown with two children. In 1850, Nancy was shown living next door to Frederick Starnes, Jr. , father of Mary L Byrum's future husband.
His widow, Nancy Holden Starnes did not remarry. In 1880, she is shown with oldest son, John Robertson Starnes, his wife Hannah Melton Starnes, their first daughter, Mary Almetta Starnes Knight, and Ephraim and Nancy's daughters, born after the 1860 census, Sarah and Susan. Other son, Doctor Franklin Starnes, had married Margaret Louise Plyler and was living in the Waxsaw community by 1880.
But it was in Deed Book #1, Abstracts by Brent Holcomb, that I found the following treasure, pertaining to Ephraim Starnes, that corroborated the connection with him and a William Byram.
Item 495, Page 313 Date: March 7, 1846
Indenture made this 16th day of February, 1846 between Ephraim Starnes of the county of Union, State of North Carolina, of the one part and William Byram of the county and state aforesaid. Ephraim Starnes indebted to Thomas Richardson, Noah Broom, Hugh Wilson and Ruben Robinson, in the sum of $52.50, sold in trust to William Byram, two head of horses, four head of cattle, 14 head of hogs, 25 bushels of corn, 300 sheves of fodder.
Signed by Ephraim Starnes, in the presence of Hiram Broom.
The men listed above show up as neighbors in the 1850 census. Ephraim Starnes is in the only household of Byram's in Buford township. He had a close alliance with William Byram and his wife's father was a neighbor of William Byram. I think I need to look more closely at Mr. William Byram. He may very well be my missing ancestor.
The 14 year old Mary L Byrom (or Byrum or Byram) in this census is my third great-grandmother who married Frederick Fincher Starnes. Ephraim Starnes is given in this record as Farm Labor. The mysteries within is who Elizabeth 33, and Mary 70, is to Mary Louise Byram Starnes. It appears that Elizabeth could be her mother, (19 year age difference not out of the question) and Mary, perhaps her grandmother, the mother-in-law of Elizabeth. Or perhaps Elizabeth is her older sister, or her aunt. And is there a relation between Ephraim Starnes and her future husband, Frederick Fincher Starnes?
Nine years after this census, Ephraim Starnes marries Nancy Holden and by the 1860 census, with the exception of Mary L. Byram, the other members of the household are not to be found. Ephraim deserves a post of his own, and this one is concerning Nancy, his wife.
Name:
Ephram Starnes
Gender:
Male
Race:
White
Spouse:
Nancy Holden
Spouse Gender:
Female
Spouse Race:
White
Marriage Date:
1859
Marriage County:
Union
Marriage State:
North Carolina
Nancy's first appearance in the census is in this 1850 census.
Among the neighbors of this Holden family were Phillip and Kendrick Richardson, Jacob and Charlie Broom, a 23 year old David Starnes, a 45 year old Mary Starnes and not too far away, a 41 year old Frederick Holden. But the family listed just under her name was this one:
This is the family of my third Great-Grandfather, Frederick Starnes, with his second wife, Elizabeth Thompson Starnes, minus his youngest daughter, Jane or Jincy, who is not yet born, his older son Frederick Fincher Starnes, and any other older children who have already left the nest.
Sarah Holden was obviously not the mother of Nancy Holden. And thankfully, one day in 1848, Sarah had went to court and told us who she and the other members of this household were.
This page of the document shows the area the selected citizens designated for Sarah Holden's dower.
The document it derives from is the 1848 estate records of Samuel Holden. It begins;"July Term, 1848 Union County, North Carolina.
The petition of Sarah Holden, against Eliza, heir of Alexander Holden, Henry, Frederick, Lilly, Lizzie, Holly, Solomon and Nancy Holden, all of full age, and Emmaline, Rachel, Sampson, Sallie, Rebecca and Polly,all of full age, except Eliza, Nancy, Emeline, Rachel, Sampson, Sally, Rebecca, and Polly, humbly complaining...Your petitioner showeth your worship that Samuel Holden, late of the County aforesaid departed this life about the 6 day of May, 1818 intestate leaving your petitioner his widow and relief unprovided for. That the said Samuel Holden died ....following tract of land...about 200 acres adjoining the lands of Hiram Broom, WM BYRAM, Phillip Richardson, Jacob Starnes and others...title papers to said lands are in the hands of Sarah Holden and ready to be produced when required. Ye petitioner further states that the above named defendants are the children of Samuel Holden and that they are of full age except Eliza, Emeline, Rachel, Sampson, Sally, Rebecca, Polly and Nancy, who are all minors under the age of 21...the petitioner further prays that your worships will appoint some suitable and descreet (?) persons as guardian to defend the rights of the said infant heirs, Eliza, Emeline, and Rachel in this suit and that a writ of dower may issue to the sheriff...June 1848. Samuel H Walkup, attorney.
So Samuel Holden was the father of Nancy Holden, who married Ephraim Starnes. They lived next to not only a William Byram, but Jacob Starnes and by 1850, next to Frederick Starnes, Sr.
Samuel Holden was obviously married at least twice, possibly more.
The maiden names of his wives are unknown.
Name:
Saml Holden
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:
2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:
1
Free White Persons - Under 20:
4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
3
Total Free White Persons:
7
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
7
Union County did not become in existence until 1842, before that, its citizens were listed in Mecklenburg.
Name:
Saml Holden
Home in 1820 (City, County, State):
Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Enumeration Date:
August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15:
2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:
2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:
1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:
3
Free White Persons - Under 16:
6
Free White Persons - Over 25:
2
Total Free White Persons:
9
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:
9
Samuel Holden fathered at least 16 children. His oldest son, Frederick, was mentioned in the will of Samuels father, Frederick Holden, or Holding. Samuel served in the War of 1812 and was found on lists of soldiers that mustered in Mecklenburg County. The family began in Hillsborough District, Wake County, however.
Frederick Holden, father of Samuel, died about 1815 in Mecklenburg County. He left a will. His wife was named Elizabeth and he named the following children: Ann, Debbie, Besty, Rebecca, Sally and Samuel and his grandson and namesake, Frederick. Frederick remained near his father's home in Union County.
Frederick Holden Sr. shows up in 1790 census in Hillsborough District, Wake County and remains there through 1800. By 1810, the family has moved to Mecklenburg.
Name:
Federick Holding [Federick Helding]
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):
Wake, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:
2
Free White Persons - Females:
6
Number of Household Members:
8
Name:
Frederick Holding
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):
Hillsborough, Wake, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:
2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:
2
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:
2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:
1
Number of Slaves:
2
Number of Household Members Over 25:
5
Number of Household Members:
9
As Frederick, son of Samuel was his grandfather's namesake, so was Samuel. He was also named for Samuel, the father of his father, Frederick.
Samuel the first was from Wake County, he married Martha Burch and then later, Holly Young.
He too, had migrated to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. However, the trip must have been too much for the old man, born around 1740. He passed away in Mecklenburg, in 1800, shortly after the census. He left a will and named his children: Arthur, Samuel, Jr. , Frederick, and John. Later, a Mathew appears, not mentioned in the will,
Name:
Samuel Holding
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):
Hillsborough, Wake, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:
1
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:
3
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:
1
Number of Slaves:
1
Number of Household Members Under 16:
6
Number of Household Members Over 25:
2
Number of Household Members:
9
So, the Holden line in NC can be traced to Samuel 1, then to Frederick 1 , then to Samuel II, who died in 1848 and was the father of Nancy, and left a large family, begining with son Frederick II.
Samuel Holden 1780 -1848: Last wife name Sarah, b 1810. Known children:
Frederick, Henry, Solomon, Sampson (Samuel), Rebecca, Martha, Mary (Polly), Sarah Jane (Sallie), Lizzie, Lilly, Holly, Nancy, Alexander, Rachel, Mary Ann, Emmaline.
