Who was Albert Smith?

 

In my earlier post, The Schoolhouse, I explored a nontypical, brief deed wherein my Third Great Grandfather, Henry Davis, deed a half-acre's lot to a School that obviously already sat upon it. The deed, shown below, was witnesses by two men I knew, James Palmer, my Fourth Great Grandfather, and Henry's father-in-law, and Bailey Smith, his brother-in-law. They had married Palmer sisters. It was also witnessed by two men I did not know, James Sanders and Albert Smith. I wondered if James Sanders could have been related to Bailey Sanders, and if the first name of "Bailey" had somehow descended through a Bailey family line to both Baily's, Smith and Sanders. I also wonder about who was Albert Smith? Was he a relative of Bailey Smith?

I've done a bit of ferreting around the Smith family within the past year, as I have a link to one branch, and discovered that Bailey Smith, was descended from a William Smith who passed away in the 1840's. During my rootling around, I did not come across an Albert.

Brief lives who left no heirs and few traces are often viewed as inconsequential by genealogy hounds and are disregarded. Left to collect dust, those without descendants fade away into oblivion, forgotten and dishonored. Yet I'm as intrigued by the mysterious as the perspicuous. Enter Albert Smith. Who was he?

Although his name had not caught my attention until the schoolhouse deed, I soon came across it again, as I was perusing the 1841 land entries in Stanly County, the year of its formation. Albert Smith is mentioned twice in these, and that fact is very telling. It again brings him in the sphere connection to the same people in the deed.

Entry 80, dated December 20, 1841, has Albert Smith with 100 acres of land on the waters of Mountain Creek, adjoining John C. Smiths line. So, here he is in connection with another Smith. The next entry, number 81, on the same date, is John C. Smith's entry for 100 acres on Mountain Creek, adjoining Albert Smith's entry. Nothing to see here, however, it's the entries preceding Alberts, also on the same date, that pique my interest.

77 12-20-1841 James Palmer enters 100 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek adj. Joseph Picker.

78 12-20-1841 Elisha Smith enters 100 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek adj James Palmers.

79 12-20-1841 Williamson Smith enters 100 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek adj Elisha Smith.

A hive of Smith's with connection to James Palmer, perhaps? Then, in March, I had discovered the following:

391 3-25-1841 John Davis 100 acres on S. W. side of Mountain Creek adjoining B.F. Davis's 100-acre entry. These were the two oldest sons of Henry Davis.

393 3-28-1841 John C Smith 100 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek adj. his own lines.

394 3-28-1841 Albert Smith entered 100 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek adjoining John C. Smith's entry.

There were at a minimum, three distinct families of Smiths in the area in those days, and possibly as many as five or six. I will not try to separate them out or tie them together, just the one group with ties to my Davis and Palmer lines. 

On March 25th, Bailey Smith, Henry's brother-in-law, also entered 100 acres on the S.W. side of Mountain Creek adjoining Joseph Pickler's line and on the same day, Bailey's son Edward P. Smith entered 100 acres joining his father's line. These were entries 388 and 389. Entry 390, just before the John Davis entry seen above, was the one for his brother, Benjamin Franklin Davis. On the same date as John, March 25th, he entered:

"100 acres on the S. W. side of Mountain Creek adjoining Bailey Smiths' and Edward P Smith's line."

One might think that in a census record, either the one before or after, you'd find all these folks together in a little community along Mountain Creek and there would be Albert, but no. James Palmer is not listed near any Smiths at all, and neither is Bailey Smith.

1850 is a different story. Bailey is listed next to his mother, Elizabeth Smith, his brother, James Smith and near a John Smith and his wife, Lurena. No Albert anywhere. 

The thing about the land entries, they are void of any indicators of age, unlike census records. For instance, in 1841, in the above entries, B. F. Davis, born in 1829, was about 12, and his younger brother John, about 10. Same with Edward Pinkney Smith, son of Bailey Smith, born in 1932, he was only 9. These men, (Henry Davis and Bailey Smith), had entries applied to for their young sons. So, seeing Albert Smiths name there does not mean he was an adult. 

Albert Smith does appear in other documents, however. 

The above shows John Smith and Albert Smith, side by side, making purchases from an estate. There is a signature of James Smith, Executor of the Estate. 

The above is the Estate file this document came from, that of William Smith who passed away in 1845. James Smith was his son, and so was Bailey Smith. I posted on James Smith here: The Mysterious Disappearance of James Smith

And on Bailey Smith here: Bailey Francis Smith

Could John, and Albert, have been descendants of this same William Smith?

This is another excerpt from the William Smith, Referring to A.C. and Robert Smith, Robert being a proven son of William Smith and A.C being a son of Robert.

Yet another excerpt mentions James, William and Bailey Smith.

This next list in a row shows Bailey, Robert and Archibald C. Smith, along with Arthur Freeman Atkins and Henry Davis. A. F. Atkins is related to the mother of Mary Palmer Smith and Martha Palmer Davis, who was an Atkins, and perhaps even related to Henry Davis through his grandmother, Charlotte Freeman.

Above is another document containing the name of Albert Smith. It's the 1843, 100-acre Grant to Edward Pinkney Smith, son of Bailey and Mary Palmer Smith. The property was located on the Camp Branch of Mountain Creek. It joined the lands of William Smith, his grandfather, and Joseph Pickler, a name often seen in the deeds of this extended family. The witnesses were Joseph Pickler and Albert Smith.

The row of consecutive land entries for Bailey Smith adjoining Joseph Pickler and William Smith, Edward Pinkney Smith adjoining the same, James Palmer adjoining Joseph Pickler, Elisha Smith adjoining James Palmer, Williamson Smith adjoining Elisha Smith, and Albert Smith adjoining John C Smith, all on Mountain Creek.

Those were followed by John C Smith's entry adjoining Albert Smith's. Albert seems to be mostly connected to John C. Smith and this group of Smiths, as a whole, could very well be one family. 

John C Smith has two deeds in the Stanly County Deed books, back-to-back. He lived along Mountain Creek and in this virtual Smith's grove that included James Palmer, Henry Davis and his family.

The two questions concerning Albert Smith is where did he come from and where did he go?

In 1850, no Albert Smith was not to be found in Stanly County. But we do have this "Neighbors of Joseph Pickler" lineup above. John Smith with wife, Lavina, Daniel McLester household, Joseph Pickler household, James Smith household, his mother, Elizabeth, widow of William Smith, followed by the Bailey Smith household. Were these "His People"? 

Albert may have appeared in land records during Stanly's earliest decades, but not a census. That leads me to believe he was a young man, not ahead of household then.

He does appear in one other record in Stanly County, and that is in the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarters. In the August 1848 session, Barnett Clayton was released from working on Salisbury Road under Albert Smith as Overseer. This would ultimately prove to be a hint about Albert's future.

With a good deal of wrangling, rifling and the process of elimination, I believe I discovered what became of Albert Smith.

Name	George A Smith
Gender	Male
Race	White
Residence Age	30
Birth Date	abt 1820
Birthplace	North Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Occupation	Laborer
Industry	Industry Not Reported
Line Number	14
Dwelling Number	934
Family Number	939
Inferred Spouse	Mary Smith
Inferred Child	Louisa Smith

Household members

Name	Age
George A Smith	30
Mary Smith	22
Louisa Smith	2

Albert was actually George Albert Smith. He married Mary Addams Clayton about 1846 or 1847, before the recorded Stanly County marriage records survived. In 1850, Albert and Mary lived in Albemarle District, but what looks somewhat north of the town, near Eli Russell and Nancy Cauble, where George Albert was working as a Laborer, and they were parents of 2-year-old Louisa C. Smith.

Name	George A Smith
Gender	Male
Race	White
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1860	Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina
Post Office	Gold Hill
Dwelling Number	496
Family Number	480
Occupation	Day Labourer
Personal Estate Value	50
Inferred Child	Mary A Smith

Household members

Name	Age
George A Smith
Mary A Smith	32
Louisa C Smith	11
Sarah L Smith	9
Carrell E Smith	8
John T Smith	10/12

By 1860, their family size had increased to four children, and they had moved to the bustling gold mining town of Gold Hill, just a few miles to the north in Rowan County. George was working as a day laborer.

Then War hit, and that is what happened to George Albert Smith. 

Albert joined Co A. 20th North Carolina Infantry, in Cabarrus County, at the age of 40, on March 9, 1862. He survived many battles. 

As shown above, Albert fought at such notable places as Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where he was wounded and captured.

The above shows him as being reported wounded during a muster.

On another muster, he was reported as being "in the hands of the enemy", captured and wounded. But the wounds didn't kill him.

Albert Smith died of disease caught while a prisoner of war. He died of payaemia, or blood poisoning. 

Below is his entire service record in a nutshell, from Fold3.com.

Name	George Albert Smith
Enlistment Age	40
Birth Date	abt 1822
Enlistment Date	22 Mar 1862
Enlistment Place	Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Enlistment Rank	Private
Muster Date	22 Mar 1862
Muster Place	North Carolina
Muster Company	A
Muster Regiment	20th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type	Infantry
Muster Information	Enlisted
Imprisonment Date	3 Jul 1863
Imprisonment Place	Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Casualty Date	27 Jun 1862
Casualty Place	Gaines' Mill, Virginia
Type of Casualty	Wounded
Muster Out Date	12 Aug 1863
Muster Out Place	David's Island, New York
Muster Out Information	died disease POW
Side of War	Confederacy
Survived War?	No
Residence Place	Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Notes	1862-09-01 Returned, estimated day; 1863-06-30 Returned, Estimated day; 1863-07-17 Transferred, (David's Island, NY Harbor)
Additional Notes 2	Casualty 2 Date: 17 Sep 1862; Casualty 2 Place: Sharpsburg, Maryland; Casualty 2 Type of Casualty: Wounded; Casualty 2 Information: Estimated day; Casualty 3 Date: 03 Jul 1863; Casualty 3 Place: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Casualty 3 Type of Casualty: Hospitalized; Casualty 4 Date: 03 Jul 1863; Casualty 4 Place: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Casualty 4 Type of Casualty: Wounded; Casualty 4 Information: Wounded in the foot
Title	North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

George Albert Smith is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Name	Geo A Smith
Death Date	13 Aug 1863
Interment Date	13 Aug 1863
Interment Place	New York, USA
Cemetery Address	625 Jamaica Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11208
Cemetery	Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Plot	Section 1 Site 776
Notes	Us Army

The Civil War may have taken the life of Albert Smith, but that wasn't the end of his legacy. He left a widow and children. The records of his surviving family members verified that he was our Stanly County Albert Smith. After the War, they appear to have been scattered like the wind.

Albert had married Mary Addams Clayton. She was most likely a daughter of Joseph Clayton and Margaret Houston, due to ties to the Thomas Clayton family who lived near her in 1850. I've not fully explored that possibility. Thomas Clayton married Martha Patsy Moore, that will come into play later. Her children's records give her maiden name as Clayton. This would make Albert and Barnette Clayton, mentioned above in the road records, Brothers-in-law.

Name	Mary Smith
Age in 1870	44
Birth Date	abt 1826
Birthplace	North Carolina
Dwelling Number	84
Home in 1870	Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina
Race	White
Gender	Female
Post Office	Salisbury
Occupation	No Occupation

Household members

Name	Age
John H Verble	50
Nancy Verble	60
Mary Smith	44
Richard Julian	11
Hattie Klutts	8

1870 found Mary in a boarding house in Salisbury. Her children had been bound out.

Name	Edward Smith
Age in 1870	18
Birth Date	abt 1852
Birthplace	North Carolina
Dwelling Number	266
Home in 1870	Atwell, Rowan, North Carolina
Race	White
Gender	Male
Post Office	Salisbury
Occupation	Farm Laborer

Household members

Name	Age
John O King	42
Martha King	24
Joseph W King	13
Rosy King	9
Mary A King	8
Nannie K King	6
John O King	4
Mattie B King
Sarah Mills	21
Jane Barnhart	21
Edward Smith	18

Carroll Edward Smith was working for John O. King.

Name	Sarah Mitcher
Age in 1870	18
Birth Date	abt 1852
Birthplace	North Carolina
Dwelling Number	225
Home in 1870	Township 1, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Race	White
Gender	Female
Post Office	Concord
Occupation	Keeping House
Inferred Spouse	Victor Mitcher

Household members

Name	Age
Victor Mitcher	31
Sarah Mitcher	18
Florence Mitcher	3

Daughter Sarah L. "Sallie" Smith had married on August 13, 186 to Victor Theopolis Melchor, and they were living in Township 1, Cabarrus County, NC. They had married in Cabarrus and the whole family would hover around the area where Stanly, Cabarrus and Rowan all come together.

Name	Louisa Smith
Age in 1870	25
Birth Date	abt 1845
Birthplace	North Carolina
Dwelling Number	49
Home in 1870	Ridenhour, Stanly, North Carolina
Race	White
Gender	Female
Post Office	Albemarle
Occupation	At Home
Cannot Read	Yes
Cannot Write	Yes
Inferred Mother	Jane Smith

Household members

Name	Age
Jane Smith	41
Louisa Smith	25
Lucy J Welson	7
William Welson	4
Nancy Lowder	35

Oldest daughter, Louisa J. Smith, was living with a lady named Jane Smith in Ridenhour Township, the northernmost part of Stanly County. This was Jemima Jane Wilson Smith, a Civil War widow, and the Wilson's have a story of their own. I've not determined how her husband, Joshua, may have been connected to the Albert Smith family, if at all. He was definitely a friend of Bennett Russell, of Stanly County. Nancy Lowder was Jane's sister, Nancy Wilson Lowder, widow of Henry Lowder. The children were the children of their sister, Eliza Wilson.

The infant son of Albert and Mary Smith, John T. Smith, is not to be found. He may have died as a child or taken in and raised under a different name by family, possibly as a Clayton, I can't determine.

The next decade would one of recovery and resilience.

Mary would eventually remarry, on a spring day, May 15, 1877, at the age of 49, Mary A. Clayton Smith married George Wilson Barringer, age 60, son of George Barringer. Under Mary's parents, it appears as if they were about to write her name again, or something, but marked it out. That deed has led to a great deal of confusion but meant nothing. Her parents, as well as George's, were deceased. They were in Cabarrus County, and both was said to be from Township 7. Witnesses to the wedding were Victor T. Melchor, Mary's son-in-law, husband of Sarah, Calvin J. Russell and L. C. Smith, Mary's daughter, Louisa. The marriage was performed by Samuel Rothrock, Minister of the Gospel of the Lutheran Church, and was held at home of Victor and Sarah.

Cabarrus County Numbered, instead of named their Townships, but Township 7 is considered Gold Hill, although the town of Gold Hill is in Rowan County, it grew close to the Cabarrus County border and became very large in those days. They were basically living within a few miles of where Albert and Mary had first settled after getting married. 

Mary wasn't the only one hearing wedding bells. 

Son, Carroll Edward Smith, 21, married Lorena Catherine Redwine, 17, on February 23, 1874. The bride was the daughter of J. D. and Phoebe G. Redwine, both living, while the groom reported that he was the son of George A. Smith, deceased, and Mary A. Smith, living. Both lived in Township 7 of Cabarrus County, and the wedding took place at the home of the bride's parents. Performed by Rev. Thomas M. Joiner, a Methodist Episcopal Minister, witnesses again were C. J. Russell, William G. Melchor and S. C. Fisher. (husband of sister Louisa).

Louisa C. Smith was married on March 2, 1871, to Calvin Solomon Fisher, son of Solomon Fisher and Christena Foutz Fisher. The groom was 21 and the bride was 22. His name is seen as both Solomon Calvin and Calvin Solomon. The wedding was performed at the bride's mother's house by Rev. John C. Denny, in Cabarrus County. 

Their Lives

Mary Addams Clayton Smith Barringer would settle in the Reed Masenheimers part of Cabarrus County. This, again, was near Gold Hill and not far from the northernmost part of Stanly County. 

Name	Mary A. Barringer
Age	51
Birth Date	Abt 1829
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1880	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina, USA
Dwelling Number	287
Race	White
Gender	Female
Relation to Head of House	Wife
Marital Status	Married
Spouse's Name	George W. Barringer
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Occupation	Housekeeper
Neighbors	View others on page

Household members

Name	Age
George W. Barringer	63
Mary A. Barringer	51
George A. Barringer	19

George W. Barringer was a widower with 6 grown children. They are seen above in the 1880 census, with his youngest son, George Addison Barringer. George Wilson Barringer would pass away on Halloween in 1894, leaving Mary, again, a widow. 

She is found in 1900, at 71, living in King's Creek, Cabarrus County, with her oldest daughter, Louisa and her family. In 1910, she's back in Township 7, appearing to live in her own home, but she's sandwiched between 'Edward C. Smith', her son Carroll Edward, and Adam Edward Smith, his oldest son, and Burton A. Culp, who was married to Carroll's oldest daughter, Esther Lucy Smith. Carroll was a farmer, but Burton was a Gold Mining Engineer and Adam was a miner. 

Mary Addam Clayton Smith Barringer passed away on November 27, 1914, at the age of 85. She was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Concord, Cabarrus County with her second husband, George Wilson Barringer. The informant was her son-in-law, Solomon Fisher, and he got a few things wrong. He had her maiden name as Moore, possibly because her brother married a Moore, and they knew each other somewhat. The reason for her death was heart regurgitation due to Old Age. Mary had been the mother of 4 known children, Louisa C., Sarah L., Carroll Edward and John T. Smith.

Louisa C. Smith Fisher was born October 20, 1848. She married Solomon Calvin Fisher and became the mother of 5 children: 

1872-1943 Mary Ellen Fisher Ritchie Bost

1876-1953 Minnie Corabell Fisher Penninger

1878-1967 Rose Christine Fisher Mabry

1883-1966 Jason Holmes Fisher

1887-1943 Charles Albert Fisher

Louisa raised her children in Cabarrus County. 

She passed away on October 10, 1934, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Concord, like her mother. 

Sarah L. Smith Melchor was born on November 4, 1850. She married Victor Theopolis Melchor and became the mother of 5 children:

1867-1939 Florence E. Melchor Misenheimer

1873-1948 James Oscar Melchor

1877-1964 Walter Deberry Melchor

1879-1899 Charles H. Melchor

1886-1963 Hattie Marybelle Melchor Voncannon

Sarah raised her family in the Reed Misenheimer District of Cabarrus County. 

She passed away on February 3, 1929, and was buried at Saint Stephens Lutheran Church in Gold Hill, Rowan County. Her Death Certificate gave her father's name as Albert Smith, born in Stanly County and her mother as Molly Clayton, born in Rowan County. She died of Influenza and other complications due to Nephritis. 

Carroll Edward Smith was born February 24, 1853, in Gold Hill, Rowan County, North Carolina. He married Lorena Catherine Redwine and became the father of 6 children. 

1874-1877 John M. Smith was one month shy of 4 years old when he died. He is buried at Matton's

 Grove UMC Church in Richfield, Stanly County, NC. 

1876-1876 Minnie Smith was 3 weeks old when she died. She is also buried at Matton's Grove in Richfield, NC. 

1878-1942 Adam Edward Smith became the oldest sibling to make it to adulthood. He married Mary Jane Fisher.

1885-1968 Esther Luticia Smith Culp, married Burton L. Culp. 

1889-1965 Rufus Alexander Coy Smith, married Gertrude Harmon and Flora Belva Furr.

1894-1972 Myrtle E. Smith Payseur, married Darius F. Payseur

Carroll Smith raised his family in Cabarrus County Township 7, nearly right on the Stanly County line, in the Matton's Grove Church Community. He died on May 11, 1913, at the age of 60, and is buried at Matton's Grove. 

Albert Smith appears to me to be a member of the William Smith family, who died in 1845 in Stanly County. Exactly how, I have not discovered, but this is the branch of Smiths he was in close association with, including Bailey F. Smith and James Smith, whom I have blogged about. He may have been a nephew of those. Again, this is simply a theory based on circumstantial evidence. He married Mary Addams Clayton, daughter of Joseph Clayton and Margeret Houston Clayton and had at least 4 children, three known to have made it to adulthood. He was one of the casualties of the Civil War.  George Albert Smith has many living descendants to this day. 

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. 

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.