30 Mothers in 30 Days: Vashita

Have you ever looked at an old 1700's ship manifest looking at the names of the female passengers?
Probably not, but I have. A pattern emerges - Ann, Mary, Jane, Ann, Mary, Jane, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, Jane, Catherine, Martha, Ann, Mary, Jane, Susan, Margaret, Ann, Mary, Joan, Sophia, Mary, Mary, Mary. Why couldn't you people be original????

I've often wanted to time travel to when my 9th Great Grandmother had given birth to my 8th Great Grandgrandmother and was contemplating her name. I'd shake her by the shoulders and scream, "Don't name her Mary!!!".

Every once in awhile, however, you are lucky enough to get a Vashti.

Vashti's broken slate tombstone

I don't have a great deal of information on Vashita "Vashti" Calloway Morton, but more on her than some other female ancestors.

Vashti, as she was called, was born on November 27, 1912 in what is now Stanly County, in the area that is now considered Palmerville, near Palmer Mountain along the Yadkin River. Badin Lake did not exist then and Badin Lake would become her scourge.

Ferry crossing the Yadkin at the Mouth of the Uwharrie. Stanly County Museum Photo Archives

She was the daughter of Job Calloway and Susannah Martisha Randle Calloway. She was the granddaugther of Isaac Calloway and wife, Elizabeth Arnold Calloway and his first wife, Littie Elmore.

The Randles were Virginians. Colby was born in 1746 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He died about 1804 in Montgomery (Stanly) Couny, NC,, son of William Randle and Anne Marshall Randle, just one of my Marshall lines.

Her paternal grandfather, Isaac Calloway was born in Somerset, Maryland in about 1750. He died about 1801 somewhere along the Pee Dee River and supposedly is buried at the old Palmerville Church. His wife, Elizabeth Arnolds family, Peter Arnold and Elizabeth Greene, came from Onslow County, and hailed from Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island before that.

A Bird's Eye View of Palmer Mountain, the Clover-shaped area in the middle of the frame

Oddly, the surname Calloway is said to be of Norman-French origin. Below from Wikipedia.



This interesting surname is of Norman French locational origin, from the place called "Caillouet-Orgeville" in the province of Eure, which is recorded in 1157 as "Cailloel". The placename means "place of stones or pebbles", from the Old Norman "cail(ou)" meaning pebble or stone.



Vashti was the second born of Job and Susannah's 10 children. Her older sister was Mary, and Vashti was followed by: Isaac, Elmore, John, Martisha, Agrippa Gamaliel, Alfred, Kassandra and Sarah.

She grew up in the community of  the Yadkin/ Pee Dee settlers in the West Pee Dee portion of the Uwharries, near the famed Forks and Narrows of the Yadkin. For those who don't know, the Yadkin becomes the Pee Dee at its confluence with the Uwharrie River.




She attended the old Ebenezer Church that was in what is now Badin, NC. The church and congregation is now Badin Baptist. In the Association Minutes of Badin Baptist is the following information:

"..Wake Forrest College observes the 26th anniversary o the Pee Dee Association....'convened at Ebenezer Meeting House, Stanly County, North Carolina, October 15, 16, 17 and 18 in the year1841,' Stanly County was erected by the General Assembly using the Yadkin River as a boundary line on January 11, 1841. Samuel P. Morton, a former pastor (Of Ebenezer) was elected register of deeds.

Ebenezer Baptist Church Post Office was listed at Stony Gap. Messengers to this Association were William Palmer, William Hall, and Michael Fesperman." Note: Michael Fesperman was Post Master of Stony Gap, at least for a time.

View of the Narrows of the Yadkin River from Palmer Mountain. From the Stanly County Museum Photo Archives

In about 1826, at the age of 14, Vashti would marry Samuel Parsons Morton, son of  James Morton and Elizabeth Summers (Summerow). He was 21. Sammy was well-educated and Vashti likely was as well. The daughter of a minister, marrying a minister, she had to have been able to read the Bible and perhaps play a musical instrument. It's been my experience that those born in the first half of the 1800's were far better educated than those born during or after the Civil War.

In his earliest days, Samuel P. Morton worked as a Registrar and Cleric in the town of Albemarle. I've seen his signature on many legal document.  Having worked as both a civil servant and an itenerant and at times, situated minister, I wonder where Sam and Vashti lived. Did one or more of the churches put him up in a pastorium?

I read, and thought it quite intriguing, that "Baptists keep the pastor in a pastorium, Methodists have parsons in the parsonage, Presbyterians have ministers in the manse, and Episcopalians keep rectors in the rectory." I had never thought of it that way.





From the History of Badin Batptist Church (formerly Ebenezer), Samuel P Morton served as Pastor, intermittenly. He also preached at Bethel, Kendall Valley, Rocky River and Red Hill and other churches in various counties about as an Evangelist during Camp Meetings. He is buried at Red Hill.

Home in 1830 (City, County, State):	West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:	1 Steven
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:	1 Unknown
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:	1 Sammy
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:	1 Unknown
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:	1 Unknown
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19:	1 Unknown
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:	1 Vashti
Free White Persons - Under 20:	5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	2
Total Free White Persons:	7
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):	7

In his first census, the family of Samuel P. Morton shows Vashti as only a dash. They appear to have had several young people living with them who were not their children. Perhaps orphans that they took in, being a Christian family. There is no record of Sammy having had a previous wife or children, and at 25, here, he would not have been old enough to be the father of teenagers. I'm quite certain it was most likely a charitable reason to have the extra children in the home.

A view of Morrow Mountain before he put on his clothes

Vashi's father Job Calloway wrote his will in 1837 and mentioned Vashti. He mentions first his beloved wife, Susannah, but doesn't name her. He names his oldest daughter, Mary McLester. Then:

"I give to my second eldest daughter Vashti Morton property to the amount of seventy dollars which property she has got.." This is the same phrase he used for Mary and then in the 5th line, for his oldest son Isaac. He states that the "above children" were not to recieve anything more until the other children recieve value of at least $70. He requested 70 acres of land on the Yadkin River be sold and then "400 acres at home" be priced at $2 an acres and that " my four boys younger than Isaac", buy the same and pay the estate as they come to 21. He names the 4 younger sons " viz- Elmore, John, Agrippa and Alfred." He goes on to mention all of his younger children to participate in the division of the remainder of the estate, but did not name the younger, unmarried daughters, Martisha, Sarah, and Kassandra.

Name:	Danl P Morton [Saml P Morton]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):	West Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:	1 Steven
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:	1 Unknown, Farm hand perhaps
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39:	1 Sammy
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:	2 Adeline, Susan Jane
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:	1 Vashtia
Persons Employed in Agriculture:	1
Free White Persons - Under 20:	3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	3
Total Free White Persons:	6
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:	6

By 1840, oldest son, Steven, had been joined by 2 little sisters: Adaline and Susan Jane. Vashti would have been heavily pregnant with Wincy Elizabeth, my 3rd Great Grandmother, or either she was just missed being a newborn.

Wincy would be followed by 3 more siblings, 1841 - George Arnold, 1842 - Mary and 1846 - Sarah.



Vashti would die at the young age of 33, supposedly in childbirth. She was one month from her 34th birthday and the date was Oct 27, 1846. According to family legend, the child was buried with her.

Photo of Graveyard Island Graves from Find-a-Grave

Vashti was originally buried in a cemetery that no longer exists. Around 1917, during the daming of the Yadkin River, several cemeteries that were lying in areas that were going to be flooded during the creation of Badin Lake , were moved to higher ground. "Higher Ground" became an island. Over 400 of the graves are unidentifiable. Vashti's is one that is.

The book, "These Hallowed Grounds",  published by the Stanly County Genealogical Society, has the following to report about Graveyard Island.

"Graveyard Island or Big Cut Cemetery is a cemetery located on an island in Badin Lake between Palmerville and Old Whitney. This cemetery was made by Alcoa to use for the transfer of bodies from cemeteries that would be covered by water after  Badin Dam was built. The island is set up in three sections.Cemeteries moved from Stanly Co. were Kirk-Nash Cemetery, Locke Cemetery, Narrows Cemetery, Pennington Cemetery,Vashti Morton Cemetery, and Jones or Locust Cemetery. Cemeteries moved from Montgomery County were: Coggin Cemetery, Chisholm Cemetery, Forney Cemetery, Cranford Cemetery, Sammy Talbert Cemetery, James Elliott Cemetery and Simmons Cemetery. Grave were also moved from these cemeteries from other counties: Arey, Bruner, Jonathan Conger, Black cemetery (unknown name), Ebony, Elliots Grove, Elliott James, Ellis Family, Elliott-Taylor, Gideon Bean, Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall (black) Holmes, Mears, Pear Tree Hill, and Samuel Taylor. .....


24 marked stones      99 unmarked stones   7 other possible graves......

*Note: Graves 1 - 6 moved from Locke Cemetery     Graves 7-13 moved from Kirk - Nash Cemetery
Graves 14- 17 moved from Morton Cemetery    Graves 18 - 20 moved from Pennington Cemetery
Grave 21 moved from Simmons Cemetery."

That was the first section, there are 3. The second section has 10 rows and 30 to 38 graves in each row totalling 409 graves. The third section holds only one identifiable grave.

After Vashti's death, her widower would marry Lucy Ingram in 1848, and father two more sons, Louis and James W. I don't know a great deal about Lucy, but most people have her as the daughter of Kinchen Martin and Chloe Hough Martin, and a widow of a Samuel Ingram. As there are several Ingrams mentioned in the early records of Ebenezer Church, it may have been that set of Ingrams Lucy was from, or married into.

A Lower View of the Narrows

Excerpt from 'The History of Anson County" by Mary Louise Medley

'A contemporary of Freeman and the Ratliff preachers was Samuel P. Morton known as 'Crying Sammy Morton'. An emotional type, he was given to shedding tears from the pulpit. Deacon Uriah Staton, large landowner of the Rocky River section and  a leader in both the first church there and a later one at Red Hill, usually went to sleep when Uncle Sammy preached. When asked about this he is said to have replied, "I know I can trust Uncle Sammy, but a stranger I have to watch'. Morton was born in Stanly County in 1805 and lived near Badin. He was an earnest, good man and filled with the spirit, and lived a meager life, bordering on poverty. He requested that the words on his tombstone be 'S. P. Morton A Sinner Saved by Grace.' What he lacked in colorful revival tactics, he made up in sincere good work. He converted and baptized many people during his ministry. '

Note: The present town of Badin did not exist during the lifetime of Sammy Morton. What the author meant was he lived in the area of the present town. Ebenezer Baptist Church, now Badin Baptist, did exist and in it's cemetary is buried the father of Sammy Morton's first wife, Vashti Calloway, Job Calloway. Vashita Calloway Morton's grave and the homestead of Samuel P. Morton at the time was in the path of the expanding waters of Badin lake during the Dam construction era. Vashti's grave, with many others, was relocated to one of the Graveyard Islands near Tuckertown Dam. Sammy and his second wife, Lucy Ingram Morton, are buried at Red Hill Baptist Church in northern Anson County. 

Posted by Myself, on ancestry.com, some years ago.

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma Vashti, my 4th Great Grandmother!

In a World of Mary's and Sarah's, let's all be a Vashti!


The name Vashti is a girl's name of Persian origin meaning "lovely". This Persian name with an Old Testament pedigree has a warm Sasha-like feel. The Biblical Vashti was a queen who refused her husband's orders to appear naked in front of his party guests and so was deposed in favor of Esther.  

From Google Search

A Trip to the Badin Museum

The old Ferry

The town of Badin, along the eastern border of Stanly County is getting close to celebrating it's 100th birthday.

Before Badin, there was Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Falls, the Narrows, the Ferry's and the Yadkin River. A narrow road, following roughly present day Valley Drive, led from the area of Ebenezer Baptist, down through the Valley connecting with the ferry roads all the way to the Swift Island Ferry, close to where the Swift Island Bridge crosses between Stanly and Montgomery Counties on Hwy 24/27.

Millertown

Ebenezer Baptist Church has it's place in my family tree as one of my ancestors, Samuel P Morton ministered there. I am a descendant of he and his first wife, Vashti Calloway. Vashti Calloway is supposed to be buried on one of the Graveyard Islands in the Yadkin River, where many cemetaries were relocated due to the damming of the river. Her father Job Calloway is supposedly buried there. The above photo is of one of many Ferry's that operated along the river. Two of the most well known were the Kirk ferry and Lowders ferry, which operated near the present day Morrow Mountain State Park boat landing. There were several communities that sprung up along the river in the early days of the county. These photo are of one of them, Millertown. Several of these small communities, like Tuckertown and Henderson across the river in Montgomery County, are now mostly underwater after the damming of the river. Many families were displaced and it was the cause of a great deal of migration from the area or to the larger towns in the area. Many of these little towns were called so as an extended family, like the Millers, started their own businesses, like mills and ferrier services, and Inns,Ferry's and Harness shops and everyone that lived in the little town was related.
The town of Badin, itself, is the baby among the communties of Stanly County.

A torrent of water of the Yadkin

Built with Ebenezer Baptist Church as its center, it had its beginnings when in the spring of 1913, a French company, L'Aluminium Francais, began working on a dam at the Narrows of the Yadkin to provide a smelter for power. They began to build a village for the workers to live in and named it Badin for the president of the company Adrien Badin. The village was located at the southern end of the lake created by the dam, at which Ebenezer Baptist Church, and a few homes surrounding the church and nearby, already existed. The French built several single family residences, buildings for the smelting plant, a clubhouse, a managers residence, and had started a series of apartments.

By fall of 1915, the start of World War I would change things. The French would pull out of the project and an American Company from Pennsylvania would take over. The Mellon group owned the Aluminum Company of America and ALCOA would become a big part of the Stanly County landscape for decades to come.

Before the Roaring Twenties, the town of Badin would include a school, a theater, a hospital and several merchants and store buildings. Besides it's picturesque French architecture, another unique feature of Badin is that it was actually two villages, one that mirrored the other. While the clubhouse, golf course, supervisors housing, plant offices, fire department and other buildings were built on the part of Badin that is situated on the banks of Badin Lake, the west part of Badin was built behind the large plant dividing the two sections of town by an enoromus smelter and industrial presence. This section also included churches, a school and various sizes of cottages and was built for the non-white employees and their families. ALCOA was one of the first industrial facilities in the area to

The Narrows before the dam.

hire non discriminately and offer equal pay to minority employees. Being a north company, and a Union industry, Alcoa paid wages above and beyond what most farm employees and textile mill workers were accustomed to and allowed their employees a solid middle class existence.

Recently, my three year old grandson and I visited the Badin museum. It is located in what I believe is the former post office and also includes the old fire station and one side of one of the unique townhouse apartments built by the French company.

There are fascinating photos of the old village of Badin, from the building of the dams to the building of the village. Above is the old clubhouse, which I believe was destroyed by fire. To the left is a photo of the town around 1919 with a Department Store in the foreground and houses behind.

The town of Badin climbs Falls Mountain. A road accesses Falls Dam, but the far side of Falls Mountain is part of Morrow Mountain State Park and the road used to travel all the way through and passed by the foot of Attaway Hill, home of Dr. Francis Kron, on its way to Lowder's Ferry.

The scenic path of Valley Drive ambles out of Badin through the valley of Mountain Creek, past Millertown and at the foot of Clodfelter Town and intersects with Morrow Mountain road at the site of the old Moonset Inn. Valley Drive follows roughly the same projectory of a much older road that traveled to the Swift Island Ferry.

Sadly, the glare on the glass was unavoidable in trying to capture by camera, these old glass encased photos of old Badin. It is truly a one-of-a-kind little town.

The photo above is of the old drug store. Other businesses currently occupy the old buildings in the little town.

The photo to the left shows the gentle rise in the hill climbling streets and a good view of some of the townhouses. Below is a shot from the top of one of the streets looking down into the village.

To the left is shown some early construction in West Badin, houses built for dam workers before the roads were set and the houses were underpinned. West Badin was built strictly for minority workers, mostly African-Americans, but I am told their were a few Native Americans and Asian immigrants that lived in that section as well.

My grandson loves fire trucks and firemen. Here he is standing beside an early 1900's fireman's uniform. Also on display is an old motorized firetruck, alongside a very early manpowered firehose wagon, you can't exactly call it an engine, as it did not have one.

Inside the refurbished townhouse. A kitchen as it may have looked in 1915.


To the left, what the fashionable office employees wore in the early days of Alcoa. A hat was always part of the ensemble.

To the right, my grandson checking out the way a bed was strung to hold up a mattress back in the day.

Below, beautiful quilts were an art in the early part of the last century.

I had no idea vacuum cleaners predated electricity. 

Eli and an old timey cradle

A childs bed as it may have looked in 1919 Badin. And to the right, Eli posing with an antique cradle that most likely rocked many a baby to sleep.

We enjoyed our visit to Badin and to the museum. I believe I learned as much as Eli did. I hope I can take him on many more excursions to learn about his heritage. I was the recipient of my grandfathers love of family history and genealogy. Eli is the only one I have so far to pass it down to. I hope to instill in him the value and love of the knowledge of who and what came before. Our children are our future. They are the link to preserving our past.