Conumdrums and Catastrophes

 

Why can't family research be straight forward? I suppose it would not be so interesting, or spur the curiosity so much, if it were. I believe for some, it's like a long desert highway where folks can drive down 'with the wind in their hair'. Not me. Never for me. In the middle of a fairly straightforward post, attempting to discover the tiny hints of life of a female ancestor, I tripped over an entanglement. Another mergement of individuals with the same name that couldn't possibly be true. I wanted to say "come on people". At any rate, I've come upon yet another entwined ball of string to unravel. Instead of starting at the beginning, I will instead, start at the end, with a piece of string sticking out that may be the least restrictive to unknot. I will start with the question, 'Who married James Edward Burris?"

To begin, there is no mystery in who James Edward Burris was. As he was a Burris, he fits squarely into my father's family tree. He was born December 20, 1847, in Stanly County, North Carolina, a Christmas baby. His parents were David Wright Burris (1817-1893) and Sarah Whitley (1818-1895), two very common western Stanly names. 

Household members

Name	Age
David W Burris
Sallie Burris	38
Davidson Burris	21
Timothy Burris	19
William A Burris	17
Sidney Burris
Thorington Burris	13
Edward Burris	11
Sarah Jane Burris	9
Pleasant Burris	7
J M Misenheimer	18

Above he is seen as an 11 year old in the 1860 census. As was typical, he was born in the middle of a sizable farm family. 

On May 17, 1873, he married Rebecca Huneycutt, daughter of William Riley Huneycutt and Milly Ann Whitley. Below, the marriage license announces the marriage of James Edward (or Edmund, seen either way) Burris, son of David Burris and Sally Burris and Rebecca Huneycutt, daughter of Riley Huneycutt and Miley Huneycutt, Witnessed by I. W. Snuggs in the 98th year of our independence. The groom was 23 and the bride was 21, a respectable age for both for a first marriage.

Eight years past the Civil War, the ashes had fallen, the community of yeoman farmers were attempting to get back to a normal life, children growing up, neighbors marrying neighbors, and cousins marrying cousins, fields plowed, cows milked, chickens fed and children raised.

Name	J. Edward Burris
Age	29
Birth Date	Abt 1851
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1880	Big Lick, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Dwelling Number	309
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Self (Head)
Marital Status	Married
Spouse's Name	Rebecca Burris
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Occupation	Carpenter
Cannot Read	Y
Cannot Write	Y
Neighbors	View others on page

Household members

Name	Age
J. Edward Burris	29
Rebecca Burris	29
Sarah Burris	5
Tinte Burris	3
H. Martin Burris	1

Now, we find the young family in 1880,  Edward is a carpenter, living in Big Lick, they can neither read nor write, and they have had three children during their seven years of marriage; Sarah, age 5, Tina, age 3 and son Martin Hayes Burris, one year old. 

Name	Rebecca Burris
Maiden Name	Honeycutt
Gender	Female
Birth Date	23 Jan 1851
Birth Place	Stanly County, North Carolina, United States of America
Cemetery	Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place	Oakboro, Stanly County, North Carolina, United States of America
Has Bio?	Y
Father	William Riley Honeycutt
Mother	Amelia Ann Honeycutt
Spouse	Edward James Burris
Children	Tina WhitleySallie L LewisMartin Hayes Burris

All so normal until tragedy strikes. Soon after, young mother Rebecca passes away, and Edward has to plant her in the ground at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with a date of birth, but no date of death can be determined. Their three children do make it to adulthood and live lives of their own.

With three small children to care for, Edward looks for a wife to help and finds Mary Elizabeth Russell and this is where the confusion comes in. There were more than one Mary Elizabeth Russell and this has caused an entanglement. 

The marriage liscense seems to give plenty of information. Solomon Burris applied for the license of J. E. Burris, now 34, son of David W. Burris and Sarah Burris, both living, of Stanly County, and Mary E. Russell, aged 32, daughter of Henry Russell and Elizer Mauldin, father living and mother dead, of Stanly County. The marriage took place at the home of Solomon Burris and witnesses were A. C. Burris and R. A. Lambert, (Rufus Alexander Lambert, my 2nd Great Grandfather). All so well and normal, but the first thing I notice is that while Edwards mother is listed under her married name of Burris, Mary Russell's is not. 

Name	J E Burris
Gender	Male
Marriage Date	4 Aug 1885
Marriage Place	Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Spouse	Mary E Russell
Spouse Gender	Female
Event Type	Marriage

There's another marriage document, the Register, which gives pretty much the same information, with Mary E. Russell's parents being Henry Russell and Elizabeth Mauldin, and the Date August 4, 1885.

So where is the issue? Not only was there more than one Mary Elizabeth Russell, there was more than one Henry Russell and wife Elizabeth or Eliza. I'm related to both, and by the way, why was Eliza or Elizer listed by her maiden name?

In multiple family trees on the web, are found two Mary Elizabeth Russells married to James Edward Burris. 

One is Mary Elizabeth Russell, born February 5, 1841 in Stanly County, and died February 16, 1904 in Montgomery County.

The other is Mary Elizabeth Russell, born November 19, 1854 in Stanly County, and died November 12, 1937 in Montgomery County.

We'll call one the February M. E. Russell and the other the November M. E. Russell.

Miss February was the daugther of  Eli Henry Russell (1804-1854) and Elizabeth Mauldin Russell (1811-1861).

Miss November was the daughter of William Henry Russell (1829-1915) and Elizabeth Mauldin (1835-1857).

So who wins Edward? Miss February or Miss November?

The first clue is in the marriage certificate itself. On August 4, 1885, Henry Russell, the father of the bride, was living and mother, deceased. Miss February's parents were both dead by 1885. Miss November, however, would have a living father,and a deceased mother, in 1885.

Also, Eli Henry Russell and Elizabeth Mauldin Russell were 4th Great Grandparents of mine, and Elizabeth left a pretty extensive Probate estate record, and land records of her estate divisions and actions taken after her decease. One particular section within her probate papers reads, "Stanly County  Probate Court

This day, the execution of the within deed as to M. E. Solomon and H. E. Solomon was duly proven by the oath of D. A. Simpson.."  It continues but was filed July 11, 1896. Although Elizabeth Russell, widow of Eli Henry Russell, died in 1861, her estate was still being distributed and settled in 1898. Her daughter, Mary Elizabeth, had married Henry C. Solomon, and was still married to Henry C. Solomon. So, Miss February married Henry C. Solomon and it was actually Miss November who married James Edward Burris.

It gets even more convoluted into an unimaginable imbroglio.  When looking at the parents of Miss November, we discover that her father, William Henry Russell, was the brother of Miss February. 

Eli Henry Russell & Elizabeth Mauldin 

                  children

William Henry Russell (b 1829) married Eliza Mauldin (not Elizabeth).

Mary Elizabeth Russell (b 1841) married Henry C. Solomon.

This would make Miss February,  Miss Novembers' Aunt. But, wait, just wait, that's not all. 

Elizabeth Mauldin Russell who married Eli Henry Russell was the daughter of James O. Mauldin and possibly Mary Ann Smith Mauldin, or possibly a first wife, as he had an older wife in the 1830 census and not in the 1840 census, so I believe he may have had an earlier wife and Mary Smith was his second wife. 

Eliza Mauldin Russell who married William Henry Russell was the daughter of James O. Mauldin and Mary Smith Mauldin.

Margaret Jane Martha "Mattie" Russell, called Jane Mauldin in her mother's estate papers, born in 1848, daughter of Eli Henry Russell and wife, Elizabeth, married Thomas Alexander Mauldin, son of James O. Mauldin and Mary Smith Mauldin.

This is just too much inbreeding for even Stanly County! I've come to the conclusion that Elizabeth Mauldin who married Eli Henry Russell was not, could not have been, the daughter of James O. Mauldin and wife.

If you remove that element, it becomes a little bit more Stanly County, entanglements, siblings marrying their spouses siblings, but not so inbred. 

So who was Elizabeth Mauldin Russell? Was she even a Mauldin? That's another question for another post. 

Moving forward, I'm just going to look at Henry Russell and Eliza Mauldin, who was the daughter of James O. Mauldin and Mary Smith.

1850

Name	Eliza Mauldin
Gender	Female
Race	White
Residence Age	15
Birth Date	abt 1835
Birthplace	North Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Freemans, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Attended School	Yes
Line Number	11
Dwelling Number	125
Family Number	126

Household members

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

Eliza Mauldin appears as a 15 year old in the home of her widowed mother, Mary Smith Mauldin.

Name	Henry Russel
Gender	Male
Race	White
Residence Age	21
Birth Date	abt 1829
Birthplace	North Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Occupation	Laborer
Industry	Industry Not Reported
Line Number	25
Dwelling Number	936
Family Number	941
Inferred Spouse	Caroline Russel

Household members

Name	Age
Eli Russel	46
Elizabeth Russel	39
Alxe Russel	24
Henry Russel	21
Caroline Russel	18
Isiah Russel	15
Temply Russel	13
Elizabeth Russel	8
Gabriel Russel	5
Catharine Russel	3

Henry Russell appears as a 21 year old in the home of his parents, Eli Henry and Elizabeth Russell. Eliza lives in Freemans District, while Henry lives in Albemarle.

There's no surviving marriage record, however, they likely got married this year or the one after. Their son, William Isaiah Russell, was born on September 14, 1852, when Henry was 23 and Mary Elizabeth, 17. His sister, Mary Elizabeth Russell, aka Miss November, was born on November 19, 1854. 

Eliza Mauldin Russell died on November 14, 1857, at the age of 22 years, 2 months and 26 days, of unknown causes. She was buried in the James O. Mauldin cemetery with her father and her markers survives. She may have died of childbirth, and the unknown child buried with her, or of thyphoid fever, which was rampant in those days, or of any number of accidents or ailments. 

1860

Henry Russell is found living with his widowed mother, Elizabeth, Eli having passed away in 1854.

Name	Henry Russell
Age	30
Birth Year	abt 1830
Gender	Male
Race	White
Home in 1860	Stanly, North Carolina
Post Office	Albemarle
Dwelling Number	389
Family Number	390
Inferred Spouse	Mary E Russell

Household members

Name	Age
Elizabeth Russell	42
Henry Russell	30
Mary E Russell	18
Gabiel Russell	16
Martha Russell	11
Wm J Russell	7

The Mary E Russell, 18, listed under his name, is his sister, who will marry Henry C. Solomon. Next is his brother, Gabriel, 16,  followed by Martha Jane Margaret Russell, who married Frank Washington Mauldin, son of Eliza Mauldin's brother, Thomas Alexander Mauldin. Martha Jane is my third Great Grandmother. She was only 4 years older than Henry's son, William Isaiah Russell, who is the 7 year old at the end of the list, transcribed as "Wm J Russell". 

Name	Elizabeth Maulden
Age	5
Birth Year	abt 1855
Gender	Female
Race	White
Home in 1860	Stanly, North Carolina
Post Office	Albemarle
Dwelling Number	621
Family Number	628
Inferred Mother	Mary Maulden

Household members

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

While Henry kept his son with him, his daughter, Mary Elizabeth is found in the 1860 census, living with her maternal grandmother, Mary Smith Mauldin. She is the 5 year old, Elizabeth. Mary Mauldin, 62, is Eliza's mother and her youngest son, Dowd Franklin is living with her. The family is living in a different area than Henry.

The Civil War

Henry registered as a Private in Company K 28th Regiment, North Carolina, as did his younger brother, Gabriel. Gabriel was wounded at Gettysburg. taken prisoner and seen no more. Henry was wounded at Harper's Ferry, but survived and made it back home. There is a Memorial Stone to both brothers at the Anderson Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Albemarle, NC. 

Among his war papers is a general description of Henry as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a dark complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, and damage to his left eye, after he was wounded. 

Henry would return from the War as all men did who were fortunate enough to return, frayed, ravaged and warworn. His children were likely still in the homes of relatives, probably Mary Smith Mauldin, as Henry's own mother, Elizabeth, passed away in 1861, not living long enough to witness the ruin of her sons by war. His mother-in-law, Mary Mauldin, died in 1865, about the time Henry came home. He made the decision the next year, having inherited land from his parents, to start over again. He did so by making the choice of a Civil War Widow, Sarah Frances Rummage, as his second wife.  Fanny, as she was called,  had been married to John S. Blalock, son of  Richmond Blalock and Catherine Howell. He had died in Richmond, Virginia in 1864. Fanny came with two young sons, Maston Crawford Blalock, born in 1859, and William Julius Henry in 1861.

Henry and Fanny would combine their families, of two children each, and add 7 together, making a total of 11.

Name	Harry Russell
Age in 1870	41
Birth Date	abt 1829
Birthplace	North Carolina
Dwelling Number	11
Home in 1870	Center, Stanly, North Carolina
Race	White
Gender	Male
Post Office	Albemarle
Occupation	Farmer
Male Citizen Over 21	Yes
Personal Estate Value	100
Real Estate Value	100
Inferred Spouse	Sarah F Russell

Household members

Name	Age
Harry Russell	41
Sarah F Russell	32
William J Russell	17
Mary E Russell	15
Martha C Russell	11
W J Blalock	9
Jonah Russell	3
Thomas Russell	2
Emma Russell	6/12

In the 1870 census, above, Henry is shown as "Harry", a nickname, and his wife as Sarah F. He is now 41, she 32. They married in 1866. William J, 17, is William Isaiah Russell, Mary Elizabeth is 15. The 11 year old "Martha C. Russell" did not exist. This is a transcription error in multiple ways. First the child is male, and his first name is not Martha, but Maston. Second, he was not a Russell, but a Blalock, and was labeled Russell because his surname was omitted. Oddly, his younger brother, W. J. Blalock, was included with the correct name. At this time, Henry and Fanny have had three children together in rapid succession, and again, rife with transcription errors. First, Jonah is not Jonah, a son, but their only Daugther, Ona or Onie. Age three, she's followed by Thomas, age 2 and 6 month old Emma.

Name	Harry Russell
Age in 1870	41
Birth Date	abt 1829
Birthplace	North Carolina
Dwelling Number	11
Home in 1870	Center, Stanly, North Carolina
Race	White
Gender	Male
Post Office	Albemarle
Occupation	Farmer
Male Citizen Over 21	Yes
Personal Estate Value	100
Real Estate Value	100
Inferred Spouse	Sarah F Russell

Household members

Name	Age
Harry Russell	41
Sarah F Russell	32
William J Russell	17
Mary E Russell	15
Martha C Russell	11
W J Blalock	9
Jonah Russell	3
Thomas Russell	2
Emma Russell	6/12

In 1880, all of the children by previous marriages, have grown up.  Their family of seven more,together, was complete.

Name	Henry Russell
Age	50
Birth Date	Abt 1830
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1880	Center, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Dwelling Number	6
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Self (Head)
Marital Status	Married
Spouse's Name	Fannie Russell
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Occupation	Farmer
Neighbors	View others on page

Household members

Name	Age
Henry Russell	50
Fannie Russell	45
Onia Russell	14
Thos. A. Russell	12
Emen J. Russell	10
Joseph Russell	8
Eli H. Russell	6
Joshua Russell	4
David Russell	2

In 1870, they were living next to Calvin Lee, near Cedar Fork Creek, above Center. This time, they are living next to the Thompsons, whose property adjoined the Pee Dee River, off of what was once Greentop Road and is now Indian Mound Road. Henry and Fanny are in the 1900 census with four of their children, and have a lengthy marriage. The fate of Fanny is unknown, but she appears to have passed away before Henry. 

William Henry Russell passed away on March 1, 1915. He was 85 years, 7 months and 20 days old, marital status, widowed. His youngest son, David, was the informant and knew that his grandfather's name was Eli, perhaps because his brother, Eli, had been named for him, but he didn't know the name of his grandmother. His cause of death was unknown, as there was no physcian present. His place of burial was given as the Albemarle Cemetery and the funeral home, Campbell and Fink, was located in Richfield, NC, while son David was a resident of Albemarle. His marker is located  at Anderson Grove Church Cemetery, so his body may have been moved, or he has a grave and a separate memorial marker with his brother, Gabriel. 

The children of William Henry Russell were:

(With first wife, Eliza Russell)

1) William Isaiah Russell (1852-1839) Married Mary Jane Laton (1850-1823) one child; Ida Lee Russell Ingram.

2) Mary Elizabeth Russell (1854-1937) Married James Edward Burris (1847-1923) two children: Eliza Ann Russell Moyle (1880-1970) and Philmore Russell (1882-1916). James Edward Burris married Elizabeth when her children were 5 and 3 years old and raised them. Their biological father is unknown, but they were raised by Edward Burris. 

The children of Sarah Frances Rummage with her first husband. John S. Blalock were:

3) Maston Crawford Blalock (1859-1936) Married Tempie Eliza Upchurch, ten children.

4) William Julius Henry Blalock (1861-1919) Married 1st Martha Custis "Mollie" Sherrill.  Married 2nd Frances Rosanna Smith. Eleven children. Settled in Anderson, South Carolina.

The children of William Henry Russell and Sarah F. Rummage together:

5) Onie Russell (1866 -1911) Married Frank Washington Mauldin on December 28, 1904. She was the second of his three wives. Her Aunt, Henry's sister Martha Margaret Jane Russell, was his first. Onie and Frank had no children together, however, like her sister, Mary Elizabeth Russell, Onie had two children out of wedlock; John W. Russell in 1887, who married J. Lizia Page and in 1890, Eliza Ann Russell, who married Walker Hampton Dean. Their fathers are unknown, but Eliza Russell claimed Frank Mauldin, her step-father, on her marriage license. 

6) Thomas Alexander Russell (1868-1939) Married Sarah J. Edwards, settled in Anson and Union Counties, Six children:  William D. Russell, Cornelia R. Helms, Lottie Martellia R. Howard, Rosa M. Russell Helms, James Henry Russell and Fannie Russell Thomas.

7) Emma Jane Russell ( 1868-1937) Married John Henry Randle; six children; Henry Thomas Randle, Robert Lee Randall, Jennie Mae Randall Deal, Joseph Randle, Sam McLeod Randle, Delmar Asbury Randle.

8) Eli Henry Russell (1871-1936) Married Pattie Lee Austin, settled in Kannapolis, Rowan County; four children: Henry Thomas Russell, Robert Scott Russell, Dororty L Russell, Claud E. Russell.

9) Joseph "Joe"Russell (1872 - 1944) Married Rettie Jane Burris. five children; Phronia, Henry Clinton, Bertha Mae, Willie, Jodie Allen Russell.

10) Joshua R. Russell (1876-1957) Married Amanda Leonard, three daughters : Bessie Russell, Queen Victoria Russell and Martha Russell Gainey.

11) David Alexander Russell (1878-1964) Married Rosa Bell Hinson; 10 children; Bertha Russell, Clifford B. Russell, Crawford Russell, Ray Russell, Leroy Russell, Everett Leniz Russell, Coy Hill Russell, Mae Rose Russell Ballard, Robert R. Russell, Jamie F. Russell.

I hope this helps to clear up the confusion between the multiple Henry Russells, father and son, and the multiple Mary Elizabeth Russells, aunt and neice, and the multiple Elizabeth / Eliza Mauldins. The intermarriage and duplicate names among the Russells, Mauldins and Solomons can cause quite the conundrums. 

                   

The Women in Balaams Life

There were several women involved in the life of Balaam A. Carter, and I believe I've touched on most of them, however, I wanted to document them and investigate them a little more, somewhat for my own benefit. Sometimes, to lay things down and take a closer look, helps to clear a foggy situation.

The first woman in Balaam's life, was of course, his mother Mary, otherwise seen as Polly, which was a common nickname for Mary, as Mary's abound in 19th century Stanly County.

Balaam and Polly escaped the census taker in 1850, however, they show up in the 1860 census, in the Harris Community. Balaam has married Alley, his first wife and her younger brother is staying with them as well, as their parents died in 1850 and 1858.

ame:	Balem Carter
Age in 1860:	28
Birth Year:	abt 1832
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1860:	Stanly, North Carolina
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Balem Carter 28 Alley Carter 29 Benjanan Holt 10 Polly Carter 49 Susan Carter 20

Polly is 49, giving her an estimated birth year of 1811. Polly is not listed with Balaam in 1870, although I feel like she was probably still in residence, or either staying with his yet unidentified sibling.

She returns to the household of her son Balaam in the 1880 census, this time being identified as his mother. 

Name:	Polly Carter
Age:	60
Birth Year:	abt 1820
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1880:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Mother
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Occupation:	At Home
Cannot read/write: Blind: Deaf and Dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age S. A. Carter 51 Tellie Carter 30 Lonna O. Carter 14 Polly Carter 60

By this time, Balaam has remarried to his second wife, Bettie Rummage. The transcriber made several errors on this one, but looking at the original document, "S. A." is clearly "B. A." and "Tellie" is "Bettie". Stepson "Lonna O.", was not given a surname in the census, leading the transcribers to assume his surname was Carter, when in actuality, his surname was Rummage. 

There is a mention in the early court records of a Polly Carter being the mother of two young boys who were orphans and bound out, Jackson and Lawson Carter. This Polly is given as being deceased in the 1840's, which our Polly Carter was not, so Jackson and Lawson were not Balaam's brothers. 

Mary "Polly" also appears in a land record with her son Balaam:

Balam A Cater to Julius A. Kendall

"This Indenture made this 12th May 1857 between Balaam A. Carter &  Mary Carter of the first part and Julius A. Kendall of the second part all of the County of Stanly and State of North Carolina......Balaam A. Carter and Mary Carter hath bargained and sold........unto Julius A Kendall.....for one dollar paid in hand one bay mare one cow three head of hogs and all our growing crop of wheat after the rent is first paid all of our growing crop of corn after the rent is first paid.....to be held in a special trust made payable to Peter E. Foutz for 55 dollars principal....date not recollected...whereon there is a note wherein J. A. Kendall is security and B. A. Cater is principal....also a note date May 12 1857 payable to Julius A Kendall for $18.87 cents....B. A Carter and M. Carter...

And that is all we know about Mary. Her maiden name and parentage is unknown. It can only be assumed that she passed away between the 1880 census and the 1900 census, as she does not show up in that one. Her burial location is also unknown.

The second woman in Balaam's life was his sister Susan.

As seen above, Susan, born about 1840, was living with Balaam in 1860. Unmarried, she passed away the same year, as seen in the mortality schedules, of thyphoid fever.

Surname:	Susan Carter
Year:	1860
County:	Stanly CO.
State:	NC
Age:	20
Gender:	F (Female)
Month of Death:	Jul
State of Birth:	NC
ID#:	293_1019
Occupation:	NONE LISTED
Cause of Death:	TYPHOID FEV

The third woman in Balaam's life was his first wife, Alvina "Allie" Holt Carter.  Allie's name is seen alternately as Alvina, Almena, Elvina or Alley, in census and land records. In the 1850 census, at the correct age, she is even seen as "Emmaline", but Emmaline, born in 1837, would have to be Alvina, in the realm of the daughters of Allen Holt. 

Name:	Emaline Holt
Age:	17
Birth Year:	abt 1833
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1850:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Gender:	Female
Family Number:	828
Household Members:	Name Age Allen Holt 38 Phebe Holt 35 Emaline Holt 17 Robert Holt 15 James Holt 10 Nancy Holt 8 Eliza Holt 6 Sarah Holt 4 Benjamin Holt 0

By 1860, Balaam and Alley were married and her parents had passed away. Her younger brother Benjamin was living with them. Holt researchers give the date of Balaam and Alley's marriage as 1854. Allen's estate was settled in 1850 and Phoebes in 1858.

Alley shows up in a variety of land records with her husband Balaam.

An interesting land record involving Balaam is one dated March 10, 1875 involving a mortgage between Jerry Snuggs and Balaam A Carter, wherein "Jerry Snuggs, colored am justly indebited to Balaam A Carter". Mr. Snuggs mortgaged his crops of corn and cotton to Balaam for a loan and T. A. Simpson, who seems to have been a good friend of Balaam, witnesses transactions with him, etc. So was John B. Simpson, who did the same.

Looking at the 1870 Stanly County census, to see who Jerry Snuggs was, and if he lived near B. A. Carter,
I found this record:

Name:	Jerre Snuggs
Age in 1870:	36
Birth Year:	abt 1834
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1870:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	Black
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Jerre Snuggs 36 Jemima Snuggs 30 Charles Snuggs 15

And while the Snuggs family were not counted that near B. A. Carter, it was interesting to see who their neighbors actually were. They lived near Nancy Cranford, her daughter Elizabeth and Mary Rummage, who come into play later on. And also the older Margarite Rummage, living with her sister Elizabeth Rummage and neice Elizabeth Rummage. All characters whom I will touch on later in this post or in this series of posts. 

In 1880, Mr. Snuggs and wife Jemima are living with a grandson and near Martha Rummage, of whom the post:   The Bird in the Branches  was concerning. 

Name:	Jerre Snuggs
Age:	52
Birth Year:	abt 1828
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1880:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	Black
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Self (Head)
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Mima Snuggs
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Occupation:	Farming
Cannot read/write: Blind: Deaf and Dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Jerre Snuggs 52 Mima Snuggs 44 W. H. Kendow 10

On April 5, 1870  Balaam Carter and wife 'Elvina' mortgaged property on Jacob's Creek adjoining John Kelley and others, to Daniel Freeman, a storekeeper and businessman. The second time Alley's name is shown in the document, it is as "Balaam Carter and wife Alvina" and it the postscript of the document, wherein she is interviewed separately from her husband to assure she has not been coerced into selling property that she is not willing to, her name is shown as "Alvainia". This mortgage was satisfied in full on January 15, 1885.

In 1875, she is shown as "Alvina" in a mortgage from Balaam to James M. Redwine for $10, 'these articles of personal property," including a 2-horse wagon, a 10 year old mare, and a blind. (Or it could have read that the mare was blind).

On January 9, 1875 another record of a transaction between Balaam Carter and wife Alvina Carter and John A. Lilly, on the waters of Jacobs Creek, adjoining the lands of George Rummage, deceased, Carolina Frye and others.

Looking at the 1870 Stanly County census, I did see the family of a household led by a female, Sarah Rummage, living nearby,  and also the following Fry family:

Name:	J C Fry
Age in 1870:	47
Birth Year:	abt 1823
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1870:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age J C Fry 47 Angeline Fry 30 Postell Fry 9 Julia Fry 6 Evan Fry 4 Martha Fry 2

Also in 1875 was a transaction between B. A. Carter to "Mauney & Company" on January 26th. In it "B. A. Carter and wife 'Aviry' Carter" are indebited to E. A. Forrest, Ephraim Mauney and son, and Mauney Trading Company for $30.00. Later in the document is named "B. A. Carter and wife Alley" and later when Alley is examined separatley, she is again referred to as Alley Carter."

Alley died sometime before the November, 1879 marriage of B. A. Carter to Bettie Rummage.

In the book "These Hallowed Grounds" published by the Stanly County Genealogical Society in 2012, under the heading of  The Isaac Mabry Cemetery, it is mentioned that Richard Ingold, owner of the property the cemetery is on, remembers a stone for Alley Carter being there. It makes sense as the cemetery is in an accurate location and there was involvent between B. A. Carter and the Mabry family.

Alley showed up in 2 censuses with Balaam. They were married roughly 20 years, with no children.

Name:	Balem Carter
Age in 1860:	28
Birth Year:	abt 1832
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1860:	Stanly, North Carolina
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Balem Carter 28 Alley Carter 29 Benjanan Holt 10 Polly Carter 49 Susan Carter 20

1860, with her younger brother, Ben Holt, mother-in-law Polly and sister-in-law Susan. And then, alone with Balaam in 1870.

Name:	B A Carter
Age in 1870:	38
Birth Year:	abt 1832
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1870:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age B A Carter 38 Almena Carter 50

The "50" is a typo. It looks more like 30 or even, 38.

The next woman in Balaam's life was Catherine Simpson Mabry. "Kate", as she was known, was the daughter of Isaac and Lucy Simpson. 

Name:	Catherine Simpson
Age in 1860:	17
Birth Year:	abt 1843
Home in 1860:	Stanly, North Carolina
Gender:	Female
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Isaac Simpson 47 Lucy Simpson 47 Thomas Simpson 19 Catherine Simpson 17 Margaret Simpson 15 Nathan Simpson 13 John W Simpson 9 Mary J Simpson 1

Name:	Catharine Simpson
Age in 1870:	23
Birth Year:	abt 1847
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1870:	Center, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Post Office:	Albemarle
Value of real estate:	View image
Household Members:	Name Age Lucy Simpson 40 Catharine Simpson 23 Margaret Simpson 21 Nathaniel Simpson 20 John Simpson 18 Mary J Simpson 12

On November 15, 1878, she became the mother of Balaam A. Carter's only child, Ann Eliza Carter. 

Catherine and Balaam were not married. Apparently, at some point, Catherine married a Mabry. It may have been to Frank Mabry. There were at least 3 Frank Mabry's in the area at the time. Perhaps Mr. Mabry thought the child was his. At any rate, the following bastardy bond was filed with Catherine naming Balaam as the father. T. A. Simpson, again signed in for his friend and another document this same year ordering Balaam to court to answer for this was signed and co-bonded with John B. Simpson. Notice that Catherine's name was written as Simpson, then a line was made through it and Mabry written above it. She may have been a recent bride.

I have not been able to locate Cartherine Simpson Mabery or her daughter in the 1880 census. On Ann Eliza's marriage license to John F. Russell, however, she lists her father as B. A. Carter and her mother as Kate Simpson.

Name: John F. Russell Birth Date: 1875 Birthplace: Age: 22 Spouse's Name: Ann Eliza Carter Spouse's Birth Date: 1877 Spouse's Birthplace: Spouse's Age: 20 Event Date: 08 Nov 1897 Event Place: Center, Stanly, North Carolina Father's Name: William I. Russell Mother's Name: Mary J. Russell Spouse's Father's Name: B.A. Carter Spouse's Mother's Name: Kate Simpson

The fifth woman in Balaam Carter's life was his second wife, Elizabeth "Bettie" Rummage.   They were married on November 3, 1879, just a year or so after his daughter with Kate Simpson was born. They show up together in the 1880 census, along with Bettie's son Lonnie O. Rummage, shown incorrectly as a Carter. It is unknown where Balaam' s daughter was living at the time or  Kate Simpson Mabry. Elizabeth, also known as Bettie, is shown with Balaam in the 1880 census, along with his mother, Polly and Bettie's son Lonnie. Either Polly was living with him in the 1870 census, and they missed counting her, or she was living with another of her children. Name: S. A. Carter Age: 51 Birth Year: abt 1829 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1880: Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Tellie Carter Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's name: Polly Carter Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Farmer Cannot read/write: Blind: Deaf and Dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane: View image Household Members: Name Age S. A. Carter 51 Tellie Carter 30 Lonna O. Carter 14 Polly Carter 60 There were several land transactions involving Balaam and Bettie, although the last of them seem to indicate that they were separated and Bettie went back to using her maiden name, Rummage. She is buried at Anderson Grove Baptist Church in Albemare, North Carolina, however, under the name Bettie Carter. This was covered in my post: Balaam and Bettie Name: Balaam A Carter [Balaam Carter]  Age: 68 Birth Date: May 1832 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1900: Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital Status: Widowed Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Occupation: View on Image Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Balaam A Carter 68 John F Russell 22 Anna L Russell 22 Geo C Russell 4/12 Nancy Crawford 65 This would be the last census record that Balaam appears in, although he lived until 1910. In it, he is shown as the head of household, with his son-in-law, John F Russell, daughter Anna and 4 month old grandson George C. Russell living with him. The sixth woman in Balaam's life was his daughter Anna Eliza and I've already touched on the documents in which she appears. First, there is the bastardy bond between Catherine Simpson Mabry and Balaam in the year she is born, her marriage license to John F. Russell, and the 1900 census.  John Frank Russell and two of his young sons, John Frank Russell, Jr. and William Allen Russell are buried in the old Laton Cemetery. Tombstone of John Frank Russell. The cemetery is located off of Stony Gap Road south of Albemarle. It's not too far from the area where Marcus P. Carter lived. The last two women in Balaam Carter's life of note are both a bit of a mystery. One is his 'step' daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Talbert (Tolbert) Rummage. She was the first wife of Lonnie O. Rummage, son of his second wife , Bettie. According to several Family Trees on Ancestry.com, Molly or Mary was married to Balaam A. Carter prior to marrying Lonnie O Rummage. I have not found any information to substantiate or to disprove this information. Molly deserves a post of her own. And with that, so does the last lady in Balaam's life, Nancy Cranford. Miss Cranford is seen living with the family in Balaam's last census, the one of 1900. She is involved in two land records involving Carters, buying land from Richard Carter in March of 1866 given to her and "the heirs of her body". And then again in 1898, when she sells her property to Balaam Carter for "$25 and support for the remainder of my life." Nancy Cranford and her family definately deserved a closer look. The mother of Bettie Rummage, Balaam's second wife, was a Cranford, Bedie Fanny Cranford Rummage. Could there have been a connection or relation? And what about the lawsuit previously mentioned between Balaam and Richard? What was that all about? Waiting on information from the state archives to arrive. I hope it answers more questions than it creates.