When it came to the sons of William Solomon II and wife Deanna Gordon Solomon, the one I know most about was Bennett, who was my direct ancestor.
That makes sense, of course, but to make sense of the brothers who left Franklin County, NC to go west and preach the gospel of the Lord Baptist style, I've been placing together their families and now the only one left is Goodwin.
Goodwin is a good mystery. He didn't leave a will, we don't have a marriage document for him, but he appears to have possibly married twice, the last time to a younger woman. While William, Jordan and the widow of Bennett, his brothers, all kept on to Tennessee, Goodwin remained right here in Montgomery County, the part that became Stanly, for the remainder of his life.
Luke Solomon was said to have been the oldest son of William and Deanna, but Goodwin must have been a close second, as he starts showing up in documents in Franklin County NC, very early on.
On January 13, 1791, ( No. 1061 p 124 Franklin County) , James Huckaby of Franklin County NC sold to Seph Williams of Wilkes County, Georgia two tracts of land, one being a 153 tract that joined the property of William Goodwin, Micajah Davis, Isaac Gordon, Goodwin's Uncle, and Goodwin Solomon, himself. The tract had been granted to William Russell and the witnesses were Bennett Hill and W. B. Hill. The Huckaby's, Russells and Hills were families intermarried or interwoven with the Solomons. I also wonder if there was a distant Goodwin ancestor as well.
There's another interesting deed in Franklin County that predates this one but doesn't involve Goodwin that may have come into play.
Deed Book 5, P 85, No. 429 John Edwards of Montgomery County NC, sold to William Solomon Jr (Goodwin's father), a 200 acre tract of land that he was already living on. This was dated July 24, 1782. I leads me to believe that John Edwards may have had something to do with the Solomon Brothers choosing Montgomery County.
On October 19, 1796, Goodwin Solomon was the bondsman for the marriage of Joseph Milton and Abigail Bass. Green Hill was the witness. I wonder why
Goodwin stood bond, he was neither older nor wealthy at this stage of life. But he was married, from what it appears to be in the 1790 census.
Name
Goodwin Solomon
Home in 1790 (City, County, State)
Franklin, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over
1 Goodwin
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16
3 Three sons?
Free White Persons - Females
3 Wife and two daughters ?
Number of Household Members
7
Could Goodwin have been related to the Milton/Melton family, who also moved to Montgomery County? Perhaps a brother-in-law?
In 1804, Goodwin was in a list of purchasers, along with his father, of things in the estate sale of Thomas Wynne.
Also in 1804, Goodwin and his father are also seen as purchasers in the estate sale of their neighbor, Micajah Davis. No sign of Luke. I wonder if Old Josiah had been wrong, and that Goodwin was the oldest, as he was elderly when he wrote the letter and just a small child when his Uncles left Franklin.
Goodwin had long left Franklin when his father's Will was read in 1814, but he's mentioned within.
At the division of slaves, Goodwin drew Anaky, although I don't know if he ever returned to retrieve her.
The 1800 census shows Goodwin living in Louisburg, Franklin County, NC. Franklin borders Virginia. I also believe that Goodwin lived in Virginia at some point, between 1790 and 1800. I am looking for proof of that.
Name
Goodwin Solomon
Home in 1800 (City, County, State)
Louisburg, Franklin, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10
2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25
1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10
1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44
1
Number of Household Members Under 16
3
Number of Household Members Over 25
2
Number of Household Members
6
In this one, Goodwin appears to have a wife and 4 children.
Goodwin was in Franklin County in 1804 and in Montgomery County in 1805. In 1806, there is a suit against an Arthur Harris and William Boyd, filed in the Salisbury, Rowan County courts.
It's going to take some time to discover more about this suit.
In 1805, Goodwin Solomon was living in Montgomery County, North Carolina near George Crowell, John Howell and Samuel Kindall per a deed sold to George Crowell by Joseph Parsons of 200 acres on Cloverfork Creek off of Long Creek on the Southwest side of the Yadkin River. Warrant 6266 began at a white oak on Edward Moor's line, joined Drake Horn and bordered the properties of Goodwin Solomon and the others mentioned.
Warrant 6721 issued December 11, 1809 was from Will Stone to Bennett Solomon, Goodwins' brother and consisted of 100 acres joining Samuel Carter and Bennett's own lines 'where Gooding (Goodwin) Solomon lives......begins at a poplar in Goodwin Sollomon's line. It joined George Crowell, and was near Samuel Carter. Samuel Carter and John Bruster were chain carriers and these two names were crucial in linking certain of the Solomons together.
Name
Goodwin Soloman
Residence Date
6 Aug 1810
Residence Place
Captain Kirks, Montgomery, North Carolina, USA
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10
1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15
1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44
1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15
1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25
1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44
1
Number of Household Members Under 16
3
Number of Household Members Over 25
2
Number of Household Members
6
Goodwin Solomon was in the 1810 census for Montgomery County, North Carolina. It appears Goodwin was between 26 and 44 and had a wife of the same age group. There was perhaps a daughter between 16 and 25, another daughter between 10 and 15, a son between 10 and 15 and one under 10. By this time, some of the older children were probably grown and on their own.
Name
Gordwin Soloman
Home in 1830 (City, County, State)
Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5
2
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9
1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69
1 Goodwin
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5
2
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29
1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23
1 Anaky?
Free White Persons - Under 20
5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49
1
Total Free White Persons
7
Total Slaves
1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored)
8
There was no 1820 census for Montgomery County, NC. They probably had one, but it was lost in time, probably in one of the many courthouse fires or some other manner. There was one in 1830, however, and Goodwin was still alive and still in Montgomery County, NC.
Goodwin is shown as a man in his 60's, however the adult female in the home is now in her 20's and there are three little boys under 9 and two little girls under 5. It appears as if he lost his first wife, and remarried one much younger, which wasn't unheard of, and started a new, young family.
Listed near Goodwin is Allen Stoker, and Eldridge Parker (Bennett Jr's wife, Nora Elizabeth Parker was supposedly the daughter of an Eldridge Parker), John Bullen (one of his brother Bennett's daughters married a Bullen), Jarrett Carter, Labon Carter and William Solomon (son of Bennett, who had passed away by this time).
Goodwin doesn't make it to the 1840 census. He was an old man by then. What happened to his wife and his children, however? My theory is that some went to Tennesee, but later, after their cousins, and others remained in the area. I refer to them as "The Lost Solomons".
I believe Bennett Solomon Jr. born in 1797, was the son of Goodwin. Bennett had a son named Bennett already, one younger than Jr., one whose children's names reflected their McGregor heritage. Another was Henry, who was also in Montgomery County after Ava and her younger children had left. Some folks also link Goodwin Solomon Jr. who moved to Grainger County, Tennessee as a son of Goodwin. I will look at all of them.
In my previous post, I explored the family tree of the three Solomon Brothers who had migrated from Franklin County, North Carolina to the Yadkin Valley, specifically, the area where the Uwharrie River and the Yadkin River join to form the Pee Dee River, in what is now Stanly County, and was then, a part of Montgomery, and before that, Anson. When did they leave and when did they arrive? Perhaps a look at the land records from both counties can give us some clues.
Green Hill was the publisher and registrar of some of the early deed books in Franklin County. He also had interactions with some of the Solomon family. There was a marriage between a Peggy Hill and Goodwin Solomon, a younger Goodwin Solomon than the one who left Franklin for Montgomery County, NC, in Tennesee, and I have wondered if Peggy was related to Green Hill and that the family link ran back to Franklin.
Solomons appear in many records in old Franklin, some of them nominal, as witnesses or such, and I've not included all. Chosing to focus only on ones that I felt offered information, insight, or show a connection with other names, I present a list of pertinent land records that may offer up some clues for a later examination of the possibilties.
July 24, 1782 Book 5 P. 85
John Edwards of Montgomery County, NC to William Solomon Jr of Franklin County, NC, for 35 pounds current money the tract of 200 acres whereupon Solomon now lives adjoining Joshua Richards, Jacob Crocker, Collier, Hawkins, and Huckaby. Witnesses: Jacob Crocker and Gaad Pearce.
In the above transaction, we see an early Montgomery County, North Carolina connection. The Solomon Brothers did not set off randomly. They knew people who were already here. William Jr. here was William the 2nd, not the son who left for Montgomery County.
November 30, 1784 Book 4 P. 111
William Solomon of Edgecomb County, NC to William Solomon Jr of Franklin County, for 20 pounds current money, a tract of 400 acres in Franklin County on the road adjoining Huckaby and Seawell. Witnesses were Joshua Gordon and Darkis Gordon.
In the above transaction, we see a transaction between father and son, with Sr. being in Edgecomb still. The Huckaby family were neighbors and close associates. Joshua and Darkis Gordon were members of Deanna Gordon Solomons family. Darkis was a female.
June 9, 1785 Book 5 P 109
William Solomon of Edgecomb County North Carolina, to Durham Hall of Franklin County NC, for 20 pounds..a tract of 100 acres in Franklin County NC, beginning at a white oak on the road, Seawell's line, and adjoining William Solomon Jr, and Seawell. Witnesses: James Ross and John Hall.
This shows William the first selling land to Durham Hall, a property that borders the land of William II. Durham Hall will sell this property shortly.
September 10, 1789 Book 5 P.105
John Solomon of North Hampton County, NC to Evan Andrews of Franklin County NC, for 20 pounds..a tract of 100 acres in Franklin lying on the waters of Bear Branch adjoining Bustian, Hill and Hall. Signed by Mary Solomon. Witness was Joseph Andreas.
This was John, the brother of William II.
Deed 1061 Book 5 Page124 James Huckaby of Franklin County to Joseph Williams of Wilkes County, Georgia, January 13, 1791, for 400 pounds Virginia currency, two tracts of land in Franklin County, NC. One, 300 acres on the northwest side of Bear Swamp joining Charles Ivey and Wynn (formerly the property of Pearce). Two 153 acres joining William Goodwin, Michajah Davis, Isaac Gorden and Goodwin Solomon, it being part of a tract granted to William Russell bearing the date February 6, 1762. Witnesses were Bennett Hill and W. B. Hill.
In the above deed, we see one of the three brothers, Goodwin Solomon, living on a tract of land that adjoined that of John Huckaby. The Huckabee or Huckaby family was one we know was connected to both the Solomons and McGregor's. They probably migrated to Montgomery County together. Also adjoining the property was the lands of an Isaac Gordon, Gordon being the maiden name of Goodwin's mother, and William Goodwin, who may have also been related at some point back. I also highlighted the name of Micajah Davis, as this was another family the Solomons married into. With the witnesses, we again see the name Hill.
January 29, 1791 Book 5 P. 107
Durham Hall of Franklin County to John Melton of same for 18 pounds VA. currency a tract of 100 acres beginning at a white oak on the road and adjoining Bell and William Solomon Jr. Witnesses were Jordan Hill and James Ross.
This deed is important to show a connection or neighboring relationship between John Melton and the Solomons. Another will come up soon. John Melton also would migrate to Montgomery County. This is the same tract that William the first had sold to Durham Hall six years prior.
Ramblin' Man, Our State Magazine
In 1804, there was an estate sale of the property of Micajah Davis, named in a deed above. Among the buyers were Goodwin Solomon and William Solomon. Also Green Hill, James Seawell and a number of Iveys.
In an Account of the Estate of Thomas K. Wynne, deceased, final date September 8, 1804, there were mentions of the following names: John Ramsey, Goodwin Solomon, William Solomon, Baxter Ragsdale.
Sale of the Estate of Charles Ivey, deceased on April 20, 1809, listed William Solomon, John Huckaby and Jordan Hill, as buyers.
In June of 1810, William Solomon is found in a transaction with Jordan Hill. *Note, by this time the three brothers who migrated to Montgomery County were gone, so this would have had to be William II.
. By 1810, the three Solomon Brothers, William, Goodwin and Bennett are in the census for Montgomery County, North Carolina.
Montgomery County, North Carolina
January 14, 1800, John Neal to William "McGregar" Sr., 150 acres on the West side of the Pee Dee River, joins McLesters old line, and Neals. Bennett Solomon and Willis "McGrigger' were chain carriers.
Note: Bennett Solomon was Rev. William McGregor's son-in-law and Willis was his son.
Rev. William McGregor was from Scotland, and had been ordained in the Eastern part of the state as a Baptist Minister. He settled in what is now Morrow Mountain State Park, on Attaway Hill and founded the "Mouth of the Uwharrie Baptist Church", whose congregation became that of Stony Hill, still in existence. His daughter, Ava, married Bennett Solomon.
September 7, 1805 Joseph Parsons to George Crowell, 200 acres on the southwest side of the Yadkin River, on the waters of Long Creek, joined the property of Samuel Kendall, Goodwin Solomon, and John Howell and 150 acres surveyed in 1806 by James Chappelle, on the waters of Cloverfork Creek of Long Creek, began at a white oak in Edward Moore's line and joined Drake Horn. Rowland Kimball and Jesse Pickler were chain carriers.
This shows Goodwin Solomon in Stanly County (then Montgomery), as early as 1805.
December 11, 1809 Will Stone to "Benitt" Solomon for 100 acres. Joins Samuel Carter and his own lines where Goodwin Solomon lives on the southwest side of the Yadkin River. Began at a poplar in Goodwin Solomon's line, joins George Crowell, and near Samuel Carter. Samuel Carter and John Bruster chain carriers. Bennett Solomon paid purchase money for 100 acres in entry #6721.
The above is an extremely important document. It not only shows that Bennett and his brother, Goodwin, had adjoining properties, has the ongoing Carter connection, but it also has the Bruster connection. The Bruster family is a crucial link in tying some of the 'loose end' Solomons together and also shows a connection between the Stanly and Cabarrus County Solomons, as I will get to at a later date.
November 30, 1811 Will Stone to James Freeman, 100 acres joining Thomas Cox and Peter Davis on the waters of Mountain Creek. William Solomon and William Freeman were chain carriers.
This shows William Solomon III in Montgomery County, but I wonder how he ended up as a chain carrier. William Freeman was no doubt related to the purchaser, James Freeman. I wonder if Peter Davis, who is a mystery, and not connected to my Davis family, could have came from Franklin County, and perhaps be related to Micajah Davis who died there.
September 8, 1812 Will Stone to William Solomon 30 acres, joins his own land and Thomas Cox, on the waters of Mountain Creek, begins at his own corner pine on a hill on the east side of the creek. Peter Davis & Thomas Noble chain carriers.
March 29, 1813 Will Stone to Bennett Solomon, 5 acres including a small island in the Yadkin River called "The Islands land" and a rock called the sluse rock and joins William McGregor, deceased, surveyed Jan. 12, 1814 by David Cochran on the southwest side of the Yadkin River, beginning at a white oak in William McGregor, deceased 's line. James Milton and Moses Curtice chain carriers. Plat shows land includes part of the river.
This deed showed a small, but important, transaction. Bennett Solomon is my direct ancestor. The name has been in my family even into the 20th century. My mother had an Uncle Bennett whom I remember well.
I've known for decades that Bennett Solomon and Ava McGregor Solomon lived within the boundaries of what is now Morrow Mountain State Park. The Rev. McGregor,
ava's father, has now passed and Bennett has purchased this small island and 'sluce' rock. A sluice was a rock that caused the separation of the water, and was a term used in gold mining. I wonder if this spot had something to do with that. There is also the Melton/Milton mention here, again.
July 7, 1814 Will Stone to Bennett Solomon, 25 acres that joins Moses Curtice and McGregor's old place,...begins at a mountain oak ona side of a steep hill near the branch, joins side of steep hollow & Will McGregor deceased, includes an island. James Freeman and James Melton chain carriers.
So Bennett is acquiring small tracts along the river. I can picture the land and hills as they are today and the 5 old mountains that are within the park, part of the ancient Uwharries, and the Solomon family walking among them, with their neighbors, the Curtis's, Melton's, Freemans and McGregor's.
January 16, 1815 Will Stone to Sally (Sarah) Curtice for 25 acres, joins Moses Curtice deceased and included part of William McGregor's old place on the Yadkin River. Begins at William McGregor deceased's upper corner willow oak of the old plantation on the river bank and joins Bennett Solomon. Bennett Solomon and James Melton were chain carriers.
So Rev. William McGregor has passed on. Bennett and Ava Solomon lived just above where the Rev. McGregor rests to this day and saw the sun shining down upon his grave from their door. I have encountered the names of the Curtis's, (or Curtice), in other deeds involving other families. Now I can place almost exactly where they lived. They lived in Tindallsville. They were neighbors of Bennett and Ava Solomon and of Rev. McGregor. James Melton also came from Franklin County, NC. There will be more mention of them later.
May 5, 1815 Will Stone to George Crowell Jr., 100 acres joining John Kirk, Goodwin Solomon, Samuel Carter and his own lines, begins at John Kirk's corner spanish oak, east of a small branch, join Samuel Carter and Bennett Solomon. William Crowell and Bennett Solomon were the chain carriers.
The Kirks and the Carters are two families the Solomons made contact with in Montgomery County, along Mountain Creek. They also come into play later.
Beautiful Yadkin Valley, Our State Magazine
April 7, 1818 Will Stone to George Crowell, 50 acres joining John Kirk and James Watkins, southwest side of Yadkin River, begins at John Kirks Spanish Oak, east of a small branch, joining Samuel Carter, and Bennett Solomon. William Crowell and Bennett Solomon chain carriers.
By now, it's easy to see that Will Stone was a land prospector, or baron. This may have been the younger Bennett as a chain carrier.
January 1, 1821 Duncan McRae to John Parker, 18 acres joining his own line, began at Bennett Solomon's corner red oak. David Kendall and Newton Howell were chain carriers. Newton Howell became a merchant in Albemarle. One of his sons would marry into the Solomon family. I believe he may have been a son of Thomas Howell.
June 8, 1826 Duncan McRae to George Kirk, 5 acres joining his own line and that of Thomas Huckabee on the waters of the Yadkin River, includes an island in the Yadkin River, beginning at a water oak at the uppermost end of the island near George Kirks fish traps and joins the lower extremity of the island, with a plat showing land in island joins the "thurrifare" (sic), or the Fayetteville Road. William Solomon and John Marks were chain carriers.
By this time, the Kirk family are taking over the lands bordering the Yadkin in the Tindallsville area. This William Solomon was Bennett Sr.'s son, not his brother, who married Tabitha Marks, daugther of James Marks and wife Catherine Gunter, who came from Chatham County and settled on Clodfelter Hill. John Marks would have been his brother-in-law. He has his own story coming. William's mother, Ava McGregor Solomon, is now a widow and has gone with some of her younger children to Warren County, Tennesee, where a few of her brothers have already settled. Only William, who took over the ministry when his father died, and his sister, Fanny, who married Jarrett Russell, stayed in this area, that would become Stanly County.
In the Montgomery County, NC Land Warrants adn Surveys 1833-1950, there are several deeds involving members of the Carter family of Mountain Creek, all in a row.
No 4586 108 acres survey on the west side of the Fayetteville Road, joins Mark Jones, George Carter, deceased, Joseph Ingram and Marcus Carter were chain carriers. I've tried to find proof of the parents of Marcus Princeton Carter for years, with no luck Perhaps he was a child of the deceased George Carter. Marcus married my 4th Great Aunt, Nancy Marks Carter and Joseph Ingram married my 3rd Great Aunt, Nancy Baldwin Davis.
No 4587 Jacob Carter was granted 100 acres between Mountain Creek and Cloverfork Creek, beiginning with his own line and joined the property of William Noble and Samuel Carter. Watson Rigs and BarlettCarter were chain carriers.
William Noble was one of the Noble family from Noble Mountain which sits just outside Morrow Mountain State Park and north of Mountain Creek, before running into Huckabee Hill. There is Samuel Carter, the known Carter patriarch of the Mountain Creek Carters, and there was also a younger Samuel Carter. And then the name Bartlett. Bartlett was a Franklin County name. There was a Bartlett Huckabee and a Barlett McGregor. I wonder who this guy was? Was he a grandson of Samuel Carter with possibly a McGregor or Huckabee mother?
4588 Jacob Carter Jr. received a 50 acre grant in 1809 on the waters of Mountain Creek and joined Joshua Carter Sr., Labon Carter and Jacob Carter Sr. Began at a post oak near Labon Carter's corner, near George Stiles, near Chisholms corner. Littleton Fisher and John Carter were chain carriers.
There were several generations of Carters, it seems, living on Mountain Creek, connected to each other, in one big Carterville hive. Yet, look online and you will only see Samuel Carter, who recieved the original grant for his service, having 3 sons. This family was much larger than that, obviously. Who were all of these Carters and how were they connected?
4589 Joshua Carter, Jr. 50 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek, 1809, joins Joshua Carter, Sr., Harris Allen, Boler Allen, and began at the third corner of Joshua Carter, Sr's 25 acre tract. Daniel Shad and Thomas Howell were chain carriers.
4590 Finally, we have Travis Carter's 100 acres, joined his own line and David Safely's, on the waters of Mountain Creek, joining Labon Carter & David Safely. Bennett Solomon and Henry Carter were chain carriers.
This one was several years later in 1828, so this was Bennett Solomon Jr. Probably a second generation Henry Carter, as well, and not the son of Samuel. What's interesting is that in 1821, Bennett Solomon Jr. had fathered an illegitmate child with an Elizabeth Carter. Was she a daughter of Labon or Travis? Bennett Jr.'s brother, Willis Lymon Solomon married a lady named Myrick Safely, probably a relation of David.
The Solomons may have appeared in the Montgomery County Court records, but because of courthouse fires, so many records were lost. But they also appeared in the Court records of Cabarrus County. They had a Cabarrus County connection and may have went there to avoid crossing the river.
In the Cabarrus County Pleas and Quarters Sessions, on October 17, 1821, Bennett Solomon (Jr.) posted a $200 bond against the charge of a bastardy that he had fathered a child, "begat on the body of Elizabeth Carter." I am searching for more information of Elizabeth Carter and who the child could possibly be.
Also going on in 1821 was a suit between William Solomon and Joseph and John Reid. This was not my ancestor, Rev. William Soloman, son of Bennett. This was a different William Solomon. Was this his uncle, William Solomon III, or had he already gone west to join his brother, Jordan Solomon, in Lincoln County, Tennesee? This William in the lawsuit had to be the one in the census below, living in Cabarrus County, NC in 1820.
The William Solomon/ Reed brothers lawsuit continued into October Session 1822. William Solomon was also brought up on a peace warrant that year and was discharged from his bond.
Also of interest in these sessions was another bastardy bond, this one between a man named John Baugh. and Eleanor Bruster, a single woman. There was also the case of James Bruster and Culpepper Lee, who was from Anson County. James Bruster was from Cabarrus County, and may have lived in Stanly (Montgomery) for awhile. He was a chain carrier in one of the above deeds with Bennett Solomon, he was the bondsman for marriage of Drury (Drew) Solomon and Eleanor Killough in Cabarrus County and was named as the father of John W. Solomon, son of Nancy Solomon, when John married. Nancy lived in Stanly (Montgomery) county. These are names not yet mentioned, but there will be more on them later. The Brusters tie them all together.
We know Bennett Solomon married Ava McGregor, daughter of Rev. William McGregor. We know William Solomon married Harty Bridges, daugther of William Bridges of Franklin County, NC, but it's not known at this point who Goodwin Solomon married.
Back in Franklin, several Solomon marriages were recorded, but none for Goodwin.
Amos Solomon married Sally Porch in 1820.
James Solomon married Milley Upchurch in 1820.
John Solomon married Cressy Wrenn in 1795.
These were cousins of the children of William Solomon II and Deanna Gordon.
Jeremiah Solomon married Betsey Bridges in 1818. His uncle, Jesse Gordon was bondsman.
Jordan Solomon married Martha Davis in 1843. William Solomon was bondsman.
Jeremiah and Jordan were brothers of the three who came to Montgomery.
Goodwin Solomon was the bondsman for the marriage of Joseph Milton and Abbygal Bass in 1796. But his own marriage in unknown. Joseph Milton also moved to Montgomery County.
Now, it's time to look at the three brothers separately, with the question in mind, who could have been the progenitor of the three Stanly County Solomons who married the three Iredell County Dancy Solomons?
As I write, Mother's Day is but a few days away. At this time, the leading DNA companies, like Ancestry and 23 and Me, are putting their DNA tests on sale. I have been contemplating ordering an MtDna test. As many mothers are in my family tree, some 13 or 15 generations down the line, my direct maternal line doesn't go very far. But what would be the benefits of a test?
Like Y-DNA tests, that follow the trail of father to son for millenia, the MtDNA does the same down the maternal line. Unlike the test for males, in which surnames are passed from father to son as well, in the maternal line, it usually does not. People who are trying break down brick walls in genealogy will sometimes use the Y-DNA test to do just that, and to get them beyond. People who take maternal line tests are usually either adoptees just trying to discover something of their biological roots and ethinicy or those Elizabeth Warren kind of folks chasing down the illusive Indian Princess they've been told about that hasn't shown up in autosomal testing.
I've administered, or been privy to, 7 separate Y-DNA tests so far. Their helpfulness has been hit and miss, depending on how many matches turn up. Some give us information on who we are descended from and others remain a puzzle. All of them will reveal Haplogroup origins. The one rule that governs them all, is that Human Nature Trumps Paper Trails. Who the records say you are, may not be who you are at all. Given the natural animal instincts of human beings, have an unbroken line of the same surname for 10 or 12 generations is a miracle unto itself.
I have nearly met my entire maternal line in person. From my mother, Joyce Davis, to her mother, Maude Mauldin, to her mother Wincie Ann Mauldin, who lived until I was 5. Grandma Mauldin, as I called her, was a tall, thickly built woman comapared to my other tiny Great Grandmother, Penny Turner Davis, who lived a block away. Her house remains in my memory as if I had seen it yesterday. I remember the big brown heater in front of the fireplace and the large painting of 'Jesus on the Mount', over it. In fact, in the above picture, the side of the heater can be seen.
I knew Wincy, but I did not her mother, Martha "Mattie" Russell Mauldin, who died even before my Grandmother was born. And Mattie was as far down my maternal line as I had gotten.
Now, to back up. I thought I had Mattie's lineage nailed down. You see, there was this book....
My distant cousin, of the Mauldin family name, had written a book about our family years back. He did the old timey research and put hours and hours of hard work into it. However, his focus was on people by the name of Mauldin, not so much their spouses. I did not think I needed to do any research on the family line of Mattie, because it had already been done. And as I have discovered multiple times over the years- its never really done. I constantly and consistently have to make corrections and additions to research I've accepted from my predecessors and also to my own.
The parents that the book had listed for Mattie, I noticed, could not be right. I also looked into Family Trees online. Some had another couple listed as her parents, and others had no parents at all. The parents listed in the book were Aaron Russell and his wife Lizla, (or probably Liza, short for Elizabeth). The problem with that was, Aaron Russell died in 1842 and his wife sometime before 1850. He could not be the father of a child born in 1848. The other possibility put out there was an Asa Russell and his wife Seena Swaim. The problem with that was that Seena was born in 1847. How could they be parents of a child born in 1847.
So, it was time to erase the drawing board and start over.
I had two actual records showing Martha alive, the 1880 and the 1900 census records.
In 1880, the ancestry.com transcribers have them listed as black. I suppose they had been working too many hours as the census taker didn't list them as black, it's clearly "W's". At first glance, this census could be very confusing, unless you know who the people are. Leading the trail of Mauldins in Household 253 is my Frank Mauldin, 30 and his wife Martha, 25. Children are 'Gilford' age 7 (Gilford Harrison 'Mauldin'), Lou E (Louella) 5, Sela 3 (Actually Alice Virginia) and Dena 1, (had to be Mary Elizabeth comparing ages). Frank is a farmer. Working for him are Frank W. Mauldin 21, with an 18 year old wife, Sofrona in Household 254, and Puette Mauldin, 23 and wife Rilla, 20, in Household 255.
That's pretty confusing, two Frank Mauldins living next to each other and only 7 years apart in age.
The other Frank Mauldin was actually Franklin Manasseh Mauldin and his wife, Ella Sophronia Huckabee, daughter of Brittain Huckabee and Nancy Carter. Puett is Henry Eli Puett Mauldin, with his wife Sarah Loretta "Retta or Rittie" Marks Mauldin, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Carter Marks. Yes, two Nancy Carters.
These were cousins of Frank Washington Mauldin, the elder Frank. My Frank and Martha would have a daughter named Wincy Ann, my Great Grandmother. Frank M and Sopronia Huckabee Maulding would have a son named James William Mauldin. After my Great Grandfather, Jonah Mauldin, son of James Duncan and Margaret Solomon Mauldin, passed away, Wincy would remarry to James William Mauldin, whom we all knew affectionately as "Papaw Jim", seen in the above picture. He was a sweet, wonderful man and outlived Wincy by a few years.
The second census record found them moved from the other side of the river, just out from the town of Mt. Gilead to the Forks, near Center, or the town of Norwood. The Forks refer to the forks of the Pee Dee and Rocky River, a very fertile farming area.
In this census, all of the youngest children are listed, including my Great Grandmother Wincy. These 4 are Eli Marshall Mauldin, Wincy Ann Mauldin, John Franklin Mauldin and Rufus Little Mauldin.
Martha is 52, she can read and write and she has been the mother of 10 children, with 9 living. It states she and Frank were married in 1869, but I have found no marriage license or bond.
It has been recorded in Family Bibles that Mattie died in 1903. She was about 55 years. She is supposed to be buried 'at the Forks". The Forks of the river is now occupied by Forks Farms and Stables, a beautiful place. There is an old cemetery within its confines and there are Mauldins within it. I was priveledged to be able to explore this old cemetery a few years ago. I did not find Mattie's grave.
Forks Farm and Stables, from VisitStanl.com
The other records that mention Mattie were those of her children. In their marriage licenses and death certificates, she is listed as either Martha Russell, Mattie Russell or with the last name Mauldin, her married name. So I knew that her maiden name of Russell was correct. So this is where I was stuck and this is where I began.
In 2020, genealogical research has became high tech and involves social media. I belong to a Facebook Group called DNA Genealogy Group for Montgomery-Stanly Counties. Despite being separated by the river for 150 years, Stanly and Montgomery counties in North Carolina are still very connected. Spear-headed by one of my Marks cousins, who is a super-sleuth in both research and DNA, the group has collected a variety of members and contributors, some novice, but others with decades of research experience and knowledge. Montgomery County, itself, was a beehive of Russells. My first husbands Russell lines hailed from the El Dorado and Blaine areas. So, yesterday, in my search for Martha beyond 1880, I decided to pose a question to the group. As Montgomery was a burned county and the Mauldins were in Montgomery in 1880, I thought they may have been married there, and it is possible they were. I wondered if anyone had any particular knowledge on the Russell family.
There were a few clues in the children themselves. The oldest son, Gilbert Harrison Mauldin, claimed to have been born on March 10, 1870, in Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, that borders Montgomery. The second born child, LouElla, was born in Montgomery County in 1872. So it appears that the family moved from Richmond to Montgomery between 1870 and 1872.
I also knew Frank was born and raised in Stanly County, where my Great Grandmother ended up, so that gives me a 3 county area to look into. I'm still not done, but I did discover quite a bit.
Gilbert H Caulder
North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000
One intriguing thing I found was this, on Family Search, from the North Carolina Archives.
Gilbert H. Caulder died on June 20, 1925 in Kannapolis, Cabarrus County with his parents listed as Frank Maulden and Mattie Russell.
Gilbert Harrison Mauldin died on June 20, 1925 in Kannapolis, Cabarrus County and his parents were Frank Mauldin and Mattie Russell. This is the same person.
So now I am looking into the possibility that Mattie was married to a Caulder before she married Frank Washington Mauldin and that Gilbert was his stepson/adopted son. One thing I've learned in research is that years, especially years of birth, can be off by a few in records. Women were particularly bad at reporting themselves younger, especially if they married a younger man.
It was known after Mattie's death that Frank had remarried to Sophronia "Phronie" Floyd, a woman with 2 (fatherless) children. Phronie was his widow when he died in 1925. My Grandmother remembered her Grandfather, being about 16 when he died.
But my cousin the sleuth found something that I hadn't known existed, and this document was the key to everything.
This is the 1904 marriage license for Frank Washington Mauldin and Onie Russell. Frank was indeed the son of Thomas and Mary Mauldin. This Onie Russell was the daughter of Henry and Frankie Russell. Her question was, could Onie and Martha have been sisters.
This is what I found out about Onie.
She was the daughter of Henry R. Russell and his wife, Sarah Frances Rummage Russell aka Frankie or Fanny. She was born about 1864 and had two children, John W. Russell (b 1887) and Eliza "Liza" Ann Russell (b 1890), out of wedlock. John married Liza Page and his sister, Liza married Walker Hampton Dean. Onie married Frank Washington Mauldin on December 28, 1904, about a year after Martha Russell Mauldin had died.
Onie died on December 6, 1911. She is buried at Randalls United Methodist Church, near the river and up the old Green Top Road (now Indian Mound Road) from Norwood.
On January 7, 1912, just a month later, Frank married Phronie Floyd, daughter of James Floyd and Margaret Jane Aldridge Floyd. Phronie had a daughter already, Addie B., born in 1904, whom Frank took in and gave her his name, also.
Although Frank had no children with Onie, he had 4 with Phronie"
1912 Queen Victoria Mauldin Eury
1915 Ivey Lee Mauldin
1917 James Leonard Mauldin
1919 Thomas Otto Mauldin
This is the widow, Elizabeth in 1860, with Henry and the younger children. Elizabeth dies in 1861, with her son, Isaiah, as the administrator of the estate. Notice in the above census record an 11 year old Martha as the next to the youngest child. Either she was accidentally left out of the 1850 census or she and Catherine are the same person. I believe the first scenario occurred and that Catherine, who was just two years younger than Gabriel, had passed away.
This is my Mattie. She was not the sister of Onie Russell, but her aunt. Henry didn't marry Fanny Rummage until after he returned from the Civil War and he was 37 years old. Onie was his oldest child.
While the team on Facebook was helping me try to locate Mattie, I was trying another trick using Thrulines on Ancestry.com. With Aaron (who was 6 years dead when Mattie was born), and Lisla as her parents, I had still gotten numerous DNA connections on Thrulines, most of them through an Eli Russell as a branch (child) of Aaron.
I also just did a general search of the surname Russell in my matches and started looking at 4th cousins and on with good trees. Some were random Russells, but I began seeing a trend and the trend was that most of them descended from Eli.
With the discovery of Onie, and then Henry, it came together. My Mattie was a sister of Henry and Onie, her niece. Eli H. Russell was a son, mentioned in the 1842 will and 1844 Probate Records of Aaron Russell. My Mattie was not a daughter of Aaron Russell, but a granddaughter. The book wasn't totally wrong.
Now that I know who Mattie was, she is not my oldest ancestor straight down the motherline. Her mother, Elizabeth is.
But who was Elizabeth? Was she a Mauldin as some suggest? And if so, where in the Mauldin line does she fit in and where did this possibility come from?
Or she was a Morris? Those who have her tagged as so give her parents as Elias Solomon Morris and wife Mary West. They seem pretty sure about that one.
So the search for Elizabeth begins. And I still haven't decided if I want to spend money on an MtDNA test or not.
