Something unexplainable and something you can't explain are two different things. The parents of a set of my third Great Grandparents, John L. Falkner and his wife, Susan "Susie" Webster, were something I couldn't explain, but not unexplainable. They were the parents of Sarah Frances Falkner, my maternal Grandfather's grandmother, through his mother, Penny Wayne Turner. Penny had lived long enough for me to meet her. I remember her, but she passed when I was yet a small child. While John's family tree is still something I am butting my head up against, I haven't given up. With the help of DNA, and matches in Kentucky, I know the people he came from, but I can't tell you how he came from them, or why they left him behind. Not so with Susan.
I knew Susan had been a Webster, before she showed up in the 1850 census as a married woman. They lived in Anson County, with a very old and surviving newspaper, and their names had appeared in the paper when they wed, as if they were important. Sadly, other factors pointed to the fact that they were not, as there were no Wills, land documents or divisions, probate files or information that attached them to other people they were related to. Except that the newspaper had revealed she was a Webster. She had also had a son, James Coleman, before her marriage, who was a Webster. He would embrace the Faulkner name at times, too, but he was not a biological Faulkner. There were not many Websters in Anson County at the time, which made things simpler, but there was one, a woman named Nancy, and when I found her, I figured it out, and I found Erasmus Preslar, the father of her children.
I covered the story of Nancy Webster when I was doing my series of posts I called "30 Mothers in 30 Days" while recovering from surgery a few years back. The link is above. Sometimes death and tragedy created vile disadvantages for widows and orphans, and desperate girls became mistresses instead of wives. Nancy was very young when she had at least six children with Erasmus Preslar, because she had followed her sister, Mary, who had married Erasmus's brother, Elias Preslar, Sr., and moved to Simpson County, Mississippi. Nancy remarried there and had eight more children with a mixed-race former seaman, named Enoch Parrott or Perritt. Enoch was from South Carolina and his father, Captain Thomas Encoh Parrott, was a Revolutionary War Patriot, born in Christchurch, Middlesex, Virginia and died in Fairfield County, South Carolina in 1797. Captain Parrotts wife was named Francis Lucinda "Choctaw Annie" Port, and there is where Enoch's non-white status came from. At any rate, we can surmise that Nancy and her family were considered a rather lowbrow people, but they are mine. Once I figured it out and hooked the horse up to my wagon, people found me, found it and now I have DNA matches in Thru lines from six of Nancy's eight Parrott children, about 8 or 9 apiece, and 18 different people descended from her daughter Nancy Jr. These folks have no other connection to my family tree or the area my kin all came from, so this is cemented in my mind. Nancy's story fascinates me, but what about Erasmus? This is his story, but there's not as much to it.
Erasmus died a young man, predeceased his father, Elias Preslar, and is mentioned in his will. He left but a trifling trace of himself in the sands of time, but passed on his DNA at any rate, which many never had the chance to do.
There's an advantage that comes when someone famous is descended from the same ancestors you are. It may be too far back to call them family, perhaps, but because they are famous, there's a chance some really good, a professional team, even, has taken up the chore of researching that person's family tree and have the time and budget to fly to foreign countries looking for ancient baptism records and such. In the case of the Preslar's, that has happened. The famous subject - The King Himself, Elvis Presley.
Elvis was not a patrilineal Preslar/Presley. There had been a break in the branch of his family tree. His paternal great grandmother, Rosalia Presley had several children out of wedlock without naming a father, so the Presley name had descended to him through her. He was still a Presley, and still a descendant of Andreas Pressler, as I am, he just would not have been able to have taken a Y-tdna test and ended up among Presley's.
The list below is of Elvis's family tree back to Johannes Valentin and my lines are in it. Elvis and I both descend from son #6 on the list, Andreas, or Andrew. The family were Palatine Germans who traveled first to England and had then set sail to New York, arriving on June 14, 1710, on a ship called Fame, with Captain Walter Houxton.
Descendants of Johannes Valentin Pressler by Ed Dunn
The Preslar/ Presley name, like many of those from early settlers to America, has gone through many deviations due to local dialects and phonetic spelling. This happened especially to German and Central to Eastern European settlers in an English-speaking Colony. Seen early on with a "B", it quickly became Anglicized to a "P". Erasmus and Elvis both trace back to son Andreas, born in 1701.
Personally, I have Preslar/ Preslar lines. The other stems from a fifth Great Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Presley, who married Tillman Helms Jr., daughter of Thomas Preslar and his wife, Sarah Culpepper. Thomas was also a son of Andreas Pressler.
Erasmus was the son of Elias Preslar, Sr. and his wife, Nancy Martin. Because of the location where they lived, I believe Nancy Martin was somehow related to the John Martin (1801-1888), who intermingled with my Turner ancestors who lived in the same area. We don't know the dates that Erasmus was born or died, but he was deceased prior to his father's Will of 1835, and his oldest son, Calvin Webster, was born in 1819, so expecting him a young father, we can estimate his year of birth as around 1799/1800.
The surname of this one family was fluid, as Elias is seen as "Presley" in the 1790 and 1800 census records.
In his Land Grant file, the same man is seen as Elias Preslar. His grand was on Lanes Creek and joined Hosea Little and his own property.
While Elias appears in many deeds, records and transactions from early Anson, Erasmus does not. He never owned land or appeared in Court. Above he is gifted land from his brother, John.
The first mention of Erasmus's name was in a deed granted from Elias Preslar to Calvin Webster dated November 8, 1834, Elias deeded property to Calvin Webster, "for and in consideration of the natural love & affection he hath and bears toward s the aforesaid Calvin Webster who he has thus far raised and who is reported to be an illegitimate son of his son, his son's son. Erasmus Preslar dec'd by Nancy Webster for the above reasons."
The property given to Calvin was likely Eramus's share of his father's lands had he lived.
There were two tracts, one of 60 acres and the other 100, bordering the lines of Jordan Woodward, Ann Maness and the later one, John Duck on Flag Fork Branch.
Calvin would sell his property in 1840 to Andrew J Davis and move to Mississippi.
This was the same Lane's Creek Property gifted him by his grandfather.
Nancy Webster had six Webster children altogether, presumably the children of Erasmus Preslar, although the younger two, I'm not certain about.
1) Calvin Webster Preslar (1819- before 1880) Moscow, Polk County, Texas. Married Martha Thurman. 9 children. William Roseberry, Benjamin Franklin, Amanda Jane, Laura Ann, Francis C., Sarah E., Lydia, James Calvin, Minerva Octavia.
2) Melissa Holly (1820-1872)
3) Susan Webster (1827-1900) Married John Faulkner.
4) John B. Webster (1832 -1880) Married Margaret Ann Copeland
5) Joseph S. Webster (1835 -1872) Died in Tennessee.
The Will of Elias Preslar
Elias penned his will with the usual prequel.
He bequeathed to his sons Elias Jr. and Levi with the stipulations that they take care of their mother, Nancy, until her death, 250 acres on Lanes' Creek.
The other tract bequeathed to those two sons was one he was granted on December 11, 1802, and two he had purchased from Absolom Caudle in 1830 for 75 acres on Lanes Creek.
To his daughter Molcy, he gave furniture, a gray mare and saddle and a cow and calf. To his wife, Nancy, he gave his black mare, all of his stock of cattle and hogs which did not go to his children, and the balance of all Household items and furniture.
To his son Levi, he gave a cow and calf and half of his farming tools. To Elias, Jr. , he gave the other half of his farming tools.
To his daughter Tabitha, he gave one hundred dollars and the proceeds of a sale he ordered in Item 6.
He bequeathed $50 from the sale bequeathed to Tabitha to go to her first child Nancy Preslar.
He willed the balance of the land sale to be divided between his surviving children.
He made his wife, Nancy and two sons, Levi and Elias Jr. co-executors.
The Will of Elias Preslar was witnessed by William A. Morris, Jr. and Calvin Preslar, aka Calvin Webster, his grandson. Calvin had carried on the Preslar name after all.
Elias had outlived his sons John, Erasmus and Salathiel.
A recent group of genetic matches renewed my interest in my third Great Grandfather, John Falkner of Anson County. I really knew little of John Falkner, except for his existence between the 1840 and 1870 censuses.
It sometimes takes a step away from a subject for a little while, to be able to jump back in and made progress, a renewed energy and fresher outlook can restore interest. This happened in my research of my Falkner line.
I will be following this post with others that will support my theories, or at least help me turn things over in my mind.
John lived in the Lanesboro township area of Anson County. This area encompasses the tiny old towns of Pageland and Peachland. Certain other circumstances lead me to believe he lived close to the Anson/Union County line.
In 1840, he was a young man in his 20's, with a woman in the home in her 30's. There were three children, a boy between 5 and 9, another under 5 and a girl under 5. His closest neighbors, Thomas Carpenter and Abner Boggan also play a role in his story.
I'm now 90 percent sure that John's first wife was Patience Flowers, called Patia or Pasha for short.
First, there is the process of elimination. In the earliest years of Anson County, there were a number of Falkners. The 1790 census listed Archibald, Asa, Elizabeth, Nathan and 2 Francis's. A Benjamin left a will in the late 1700's naming a wife, Elizabeth and two sons, John and Henry, so Elizabeth may have been his widow.
In 1800, there is Job, Nathan, Jonathan, Francis and Asa.
In 1810, there is Elizabeth and John. Research would reveal that Francis Jr., originally from counties east, had died and his sons, Nathan and Jonathan had migrated away west and south. Some put John and Jonathan as the same person, but other records contradict this.
In 1820 there are no Falkners at all. Not one. Which hastens the question, where did they go? My John was born about 1812, and was probably here, but living with another family, maybe a mother had remarried, or maybe a family was just missed.
In 1830 Asa is back. Just Asa.
In 1840, there is my John and a Susan. This was Susan Myers Falkner, daughter of Marmaduke and widow of Asa, or A. W. L. Faulkner, Sr. She was living with 5 of her 7 children, 2 already being married, and 22 slaves. There was also an adult man in the home near her age, which was probably a hired man. Susan was a wealthy woman. John was not.
In 1850, there are my 3rd Great Grandparents, John and Susan and their children and then the Susan Falkner family. There is one more, a 17 year old Thomas A. Falkner. He lives in Lanesboro, near John and Susan and not in White Store (aka Dumas Shop, aka Meltonsville) where the Susan Myers Fallkner family lived.
Thomas A. Falkner is 17, the same age as Osburn Falkner, John's oldest son. I do not say Susan's as the older children are definately not Susans, as she is just 25. He is living with 40 year old Sarah Watson and 50 year old Morning Keen. He is not the son of either, however, all evidence points toward him being their great- nephew.
Sarah and Morning are sisters, and their sister, Mary "Polly"Keen had married a Michael Flowers who had died a few months prior. Also living nearby is Edy Flowers, 35 with a 15 year old Morning Flowers, daughters of Michael Flowers.
In Michael Flowers will, dated January 21, 1850 and probated in Apirl of 1850, he names children: Edy, Morning, William, Benjamin, Joseph, Elijah and Jane. He also adds; "It is my will for the heirs of Pashy Falkner, decsd., to have 35 acres of land adjoinin Elijah my son and Jane my daughter." Thirty-five or thirty-four acres is what he was assigning to his other children, with the exception of John, who 'has had his part of my estate.'
The records of John Falkners older children give the name of their mother as 'Patience', 'Patia' or 'Pashy'.
It was not an overly common name. To add to the circumstantial evidence, there were only two identifiable Falkners still in the area that she could have been married to at the time, Asa and John, and Asa was married to Susan Myers Falkner, who outlived him by many decades.
Anson County, NC
County Index to the North Carolina Marriages Database.
496. Faulkner, A. W. L. (Jr) Barett, Martha J. 1865
497. Faulkner, A. W. L. (Sr.) Myers, Sarah Susan 1826
498. Faulkner, Elijah Huntley, Caroline M. 1855
499. Faulkner, John Webster, Susan 1856
500. Faulkner, Joseph White, Mary Caroline 1858
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Marceline Beem <marceline@mindspring.com>
The marriage of John Faulkner and Susan Webster is recorded in the Anson County, NC archives database, as well as the marriages of Asa W. L. Faulkner and Susan Myers, and several of their children.
The 1850 census shows the divison in age of the Falkner children living in the home. I am pretty sure the year of marriage of John Falkner and Susan Webster as 1856 was incorrect, as in 1850, they are living in the same home as husband and wife and Susan has given birth to an unnamed infant, who was probably daughter Luanna, aged 10 in the 1860 census.
Besides John and Susan, in the home is Osburn, 17, Martin, 14, Martha 15, Golden 13 and 'Oseniah' 8, with the unnamed infant. They skipped the gender with most of the children, designating Osburn and Martin as male, Martha as female, and dashed the youngers down from Martha as all female. Golden was male, as was 'Oseniah', who was actually Azariah. The transcribers even had Martin, in all, William Martin, as "Martina", despite being designated male. This, and the mispelling of Azariah leads me to believe that 'Osburn' may have actually been Ausburn, as I learned in my Turner search that Ausbourne Turner was often seen as Osborne or Osburn, despite his legal records, even to his tombstore being "Ausborne". If that was the case, Thomas A. Falkner and Osburn Falkner may have been one and the same. I've seen it many times, especially in the Stanly County records, when a teen-aged boy was making some extra money helping a neighbor and was counted in their home as a farm laborer or whatnot, then a few weeks or even months later, when a census take came by the family home, he was enumerated with his family.
Another thing to note abut the 1850 cenus is the comparison of the neighbors to those in the 1840. Instead of Thomas Carpenter, we have in his place, Richard Carpenter, his son. Living with the Carpenters is Abner Boggan and his wife Martha, who was also John Falkners neighbor in 1840. They are in their 70's and a 5 year old boy named James Coleman is living with them. Coleman was not his last name.
In Abner Boggans will, probated January 2, 1870, he leaves to James Coleman Webster, "the tract of land on which I live, containing ninety acres as per deed not on record, after the decease of myself and wife, to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever." Not only that, he left to J. C. Webster, all of his household and kitchen furniture, all of his tools and all of his stock, horses, cows, sheep and hogs. He appointed Miles W. Mask as his executor, and mentions no other person, except his unnamed wife, but her name was Martha, as is shown in the census records. Abner Boggan was certainly fond of James Coleman Webster.
In 1860, James Coleman shows up in the home of John and Susan Falkner. The reason for this is that he was the son of Susan Webster Falkner, born before her marriage to John. This census shows John and Susan in the same place he was in 1840 and 1850. John's oldest daughter, Martha, has returned to the household, now bearing the name 'Manus'. She was a widow, having married an unknown Manus in the interim. Then there are two of John's sons by his first marriage, Golden and Azariah, ages given as 19 and 15. Following is 15 year old James Coleman (Webster). Afterwards are the children John and Susan had together, Luanna, 10, Constantine, 8, John D. 5, Ellen 3, Barbara, 2 and Marshall, 2 months. Abner Boggan and his wife, Martha, are listed next and Mary Manus next to them. The connection between the Boggans and the Websters or Falkners is something I wish to explore further.
1870 is the last census to look at for John Falkner. All of his children by his first wife, Patience, are all grown up and out on their own. Constantine is listed as the oldest child in the group. 'Luanna', who was listed as two years his senior is not. Her name is written very lightly and could certainly be something else entirely, but I have found no more information on her. At 18 to 20 years of age, it's very possible she was married by then, or she may have died young. I still hope to find her at some point. There's Ellen and Barbara, but no John D. or Marshall, so it's obvious that the family had suffered some severe losses over the decade. These two would have been children, so the liklihood is that they died of some childhood ailment or accident. Infant mortality was high. They've been joined by Joseph, George, Silvia and Sarah. One year old Sarah is where I come in. She's my Second Great Grandmother, Sarah Frances Faulkner. There would be at least one more child after this census, Ella.
Neither John nor Susan live until the 1880 census that I can determine. I know Susan was alive in 1872 to give birth to Ella. For her, that would have been her 12th known child, not counting John's 5 by his first marriage. Although the following article only names the victim as a man named Falkner, I believe this is the only record of the death of John, again, simply because of the process of elimination. It wasn't Asa or his sons and it wasn't any of John's sons, and they were the only Falkners in the area at this time, to my knowledge. That leaves John. Add to that the social status, as this Falkner was working on the farm of Mr. Little and the other 'set' of Falkners were wealthy, John was not.
1877-01-10
Wadesboro, North Carolina
George Thomas Little lived in Gulledge Township in Anson County. His family may come into play later.
That's all the census and marriage records could tell me about the life of John Falkner, so I went to the land records to see what they would reveal. Recall that in the 1810 census, the only two Falkners listed were Elizabeth and John. This would not have been my John, of course, but while looking at the land records for a John Falkner, I would have to use the dates to sort which would be mine and which would have had to have been the older John.
I also included some of the land records involving the older generation of Falkners who had made Anson County home that I had found interesting and possibly relative to my search.
Jan 20, 1795, Joseph Falkner of Anson County to John May, sold 38 acres on Wilkey's Mill Creek joining the properties of Robert Edwards, John May and Francis Falkner, sold to Joseph by Robert Hall. Signed by Joseph Falkner. Witnesses; Ezra Bostick and J. S. Pickett. Oath by Ezra Bostick in Jan of 1802. Book H2 Page 251. Note: the location of Wilkey's Mill Creek, and the surname of Mays is something to remember.
Dec. 15,1798 David Collins of Anson County to Elijah Falkner of the same sold 2 tracts of 200 acres, the border beginning at a hickory on the east side of Lowery's Branch near the mouth of Dry Prong. It crossed the 'dreans' or drains of Lowery's branch, crossed the branch and that was the first tract. The second tract was one of 100 acres that began at a stake on the line of David Collins new survey. It joined Ready Branch, crossed Lowery's branch and the fourth line of Collins new survey. The witnesses were Job Falkner, Merit Meek and Jonathan Falkner. Job Falkner gave oath in Oct, 1805 Book L Page 8.
Dec 2, 1800 Nathan Falkner to Jonathan and Warren Falkner, all of Anson County for 160 Spanish milled dollars, sold all my stock and cattle and hogs, 3 featherbeds & furniture, all my other household furniture & my crib of corn. Signed Nathan Falkner, witnesses Noah and William Rushing. Acknowledged in 1802, Book H2 Page 50. Note: Nathan only appears in the 1790 and 1800 census of Anson County. This sounds like a man on the move who is selling everything he can't take with him to members of his family. Also mentions a Warren Falkner, who never appears in a census.
June 16, 1801 John Ford of Anson County sold to Jacob Mangrum of Chesterfield County, SC, 150 acres southwest of the Pee Dee on Cedar Creek. Witnessed by Nathan and Jonathan Falkner.
Nov 20, 1801 Nathan Falkner to Malcolm McCusick, both of Anson for $160, 74 acres on Cedar Creek. Begins at a persimmon tree along Ross's fence, joins Cedar Creek and the upper corner of Nathan Falkner's plantation.Sold by Hugh Johnson to James Forehand. Signed by Nathan Falkner and witnessed by Malcolm Campbell and Jonathan Falkner. Oath Jan 1802 by Jonathan Falkner. Book H2 Page 260. Note: Nathan is still in Anson in November of 1801. There is obviously a close relationship between Nathan and Jonathan, who was still in Anson in 1802. *Important fact; Jonathan is the person who is suggested as the father of my John in Thrulines and whose descendants certainly are dna matches of myself and others of John's descendants. However, the evidence does not support that in my book.
Oct 19, 1803 Elisha Falkner of Anson County to Francis Wisdom of the same, for $25 sold 500 acres on the head drains of Morris's Branch beginning at Pleasant May's corner at the side of a drain. Joins John Falkner,Buchanan, Wisdom and Chiles. Granted to Elisha Falkner. Signed Elisha Falkner, witnesses: Elisha B. Smith & Job Falkner. Oath, Oct 1805 by Job Falkner. Book L. Page 13
ie: Here I must interject that Elijah and Elisha were obviously interchangable. There was a grant to Elijah/Elisah Falkner. The property adjoined that of older John Falkner, which probably meant a familial connection. The names of Pleasant May and the Buchanons would become very significant. Also, Job Falkner, mentioned in both deeds, gave oath to both the 1798 deed and the 1803 deed both in October of 1805.
October 31, 1808 Asa Falkner of Anson County to John Buchanon of the same for $500, 500 acres on Featherbed Branch, beggining at a hickory in Malachi Watts line, near a drain of Featherbed Branch. Joins Wisdom, Chiles, Teak, John Falkner, Buchanon and Robert Jarmon, except .5 acres where the MeetingHouse stands, includes where said Falkner lives. Signed by Asa Falkner and witnessed by Richard C. Pattisall and M. Johnson. Oath on July of 1814 by Richard Pattisall. Note: This is the first mention of Asa. Again, the mention of the Buchanon property and that it borders John Falkner and Wisdom and Chiles, the same names mentioned in the Elijah Falkner transaction.
Jan 19, 1815 William Hammond, Sheriff of Anson County to Major Pleasant May of Anson, sold 150 acres, beginning at Benjamin Buchanons line, sold Oct 5, 1804 by John Jennings, the late sheriff, due to a suit by Pleasant May against John Falkner, execution to John Jennings to serve on John Falkner, land sold because no goods or chattels found. Signed W. Hammond Sheriff, Witnesses Bogan Cash and Martin Picket, July 1815 Book R Page 20. Note: This was the property of the elder John Falkner as my John Falkner would have been about 3 years old. Again, mention of the Buchanon family and Pleasant May. John Falkner lost all of his goods and property and had fallen into poverty. This may have been because he was physically ill. The 1810 census, the only one he appears in, gave his age as between 26 and 45.
Name:
Jno Folkner
Residence Date:
6 Aug 1810
Residence Place:
Anson, North Carolina, USA
Free White Male 0 to 9:
3
Free White Male 10 to 15:
1
Free White Male 26 to 45:
1
Free White Female 0 to 9:
2
Free White Female 26 to 45:
1
Number of Household Members Under 16:
6
Number of Household Members Over 25:
2
Number of Household Members:
8
In 1810, John Falkner (Seen as the abbreviation for John "JNO" 'Folkner') is between 26 and 45, as is (most likely) his wife. There are two girls under 10 in his household and 3 boys under 10 and one between 10 and 15.
Dec 23, 1831 Henry Buchanan to Daniel McRae, both of Anson, on Featherbed Branch, beginning at a Hickory in Malachi Watts line near a drain of Featherbed Branch, joins Wisdom, Childs, Teal, John Falkner, Buchanon & Robert German. includes the land bought of Richard Buchanon except the 0.5 Acres where the meeting house stands. Book Y Page 92. Note; this is the same description of land Asa Falkner sold to John Buchanon and land is still in John Falkners name.
On Oct. 11, 1841, John W. Sparks transfers to Caswell C. Blackwell, both of Anson County, several notes and properties, as a merchant or businessman. Among the list of accounts transferred from Sparks to Blackwell was on of $2.85 owed by John Falkner. Several of Johns 1840 neighbors are listed in the record. This is my John.
On Nov 5, 1841, William H. Gulledge sold property to Rufus T. Jerman and William Teal on the head waters of Goulds Fork that joined the heirs of Asa Gulledge, so Asa had passed away.
On February 25, 1849 Abner Boggan sold 57.25 acres of land to Eli Shepherd that began at Thomas Carpenters line and joined a lot that Eli Shepherd already owned. Allen Carpenter and John Faulkner were the witnesses. Book 13 Page 14. Oath by John Faulkner in April of 1849.
In 1850, the partnership of Boggan and Hammond listed a number of accounts that were due to them. Among the accounts in 14768J was that of John Falkners, due $18.86 credit of $15.00.
With this ends all I currently know of John Falkner.
I will be looking to the records of his children for any other information, and also to the connection of the families of the Mays, Buchanons and Abner Boggan. Where went the earilier Falkners of Nathan, Jonathan, Warren, Elijah and Francis? What about the descendants of Jonathan Falkner that I share DNA with? And who was Jonathan Falkner himself ? But most of all, who was the earlier John Falkner that shows up in the 1810 census and 1815 lawsuit with Pleasant May?
Ok, so this isn't one of my Mother's Day posts, but it pertains to two of my Mother's Day posts.
I've been focusing on various female ancestors in my family tree from varying generations. Up until this week, I had no idea who my 3rd Great Grandmother was, except that her name was Susan Webster who married John Faulkner. I still do not know who his parents were or where he came from. All I knew was that he had a previous wife named Patty and several children by her. He then married Susan Webster, had some children by her before he married her, and they raised a large family in the Lanesboro area of Anson County, one of whom was my Great Grandmother, Penny Wayne Turner's mother, Sarah Frances Faulkner.
Just a pretty picture of an old house I took 4 years ago that popped up in Memories on my phone.
It just bothered me that I didn't know, so I began digging, snooping and calculating. The two posts are Here and Here.
There were not many mentions of any Websters in Anson County, where Susan lived and raised her family, so I took the few scraps I had and looked at them theoretically, and things started coming together. I found a Nancy Webster who seemed to have 3 children in 1830 (a fourth would be born in 1832). I found her mentioned in an 1834 deed wherein Elias Preslar, Sr. named her as the mother of his illegitimate grandson, Calvin, by his deceased son, Erasmus.
At first, I didn't find anymore on Calvin,except that he sold the property his grandfather had given him, 6 years later. Speculating that Calvin may have taken his fathers name as an adult, I found him in the 1840 census of Anson County, then I traced him as he moved from there to Scott County, Mississippi, where he married Miss Martha Thurman. They then moved to Bienville Parrish, L. A. and lastly to Polk County, Texas.
While tracing Calvins route and records, I discovered a Nancy Webster, from Anson County, NC, no less, who was in Scott County, MS by 1841, as she shows in the state tax list for that year. She married a mixed race Blacksmith named Enoch Perrett there. Also arriving in Scott County, MS about the same time was one Elias Preslar, Jr. Brother of Erasmus, son of Elias Sr. I also discoverd that his wife was named Mary Elizabeth Webster and the difference in the ages of her and Nancy Webster Perrett was about 2 years. In the 1840 census they were living side by side.
To add an extra point of interest, Enoch Perrett's oldest daughter was married to Calvin's wife, Martha Thurmans, brother.
Elias Preslar, Jr. and family also migrated on down to Bienville Parrish with Calvin's family, but Elias didn't make it to Texas with the younger generation, including some of the Perretts. He died in Louisiana. I also discovered another female Webster in Anson County, who I believe was probably a third sister.
I am a long way from being finished researching this family. For one, two sisters, Ann E and Mary C Webster show up in Union County in its first census, just over the border from Anson, and they were born in Louisiana. Both school teachers, one marries a McCollough and the other remains single. They retire to Chester County, South Carolina. At one point, one of the sisters is found with Malissa Webster, who is in the 1850 census of Anson County, in the Lanesboro area. I believe Malissa to be one of the girls in the 1830 household of Nancy Webster and my Susan to be the other. And, of course, Calvin to be the boy. There may have been some Webster family members already in Bienville Parrish before Calvin and Elias arrived. Remember, Elias's wife was a Webster as well.
At any rate, I felt I had enough circumstantial evidence to put Nancy as Susan's mother in my Family Tree, just to see what would happen.
And Wa-Lah! Thru-Lines on ancestry.com has done its job. I share dna with descendants of Calvin.
It says he is my Half 4th Great Uncle because I have not connected Erasmus Preslar as the father of my Susan, but he probably was. The awesome thing is that I probably match more of Calvins descendants, but most of them have no idea where, or who, Calvin came from. They're from out west and have never read the deeds from Anson County, North Carolina. And they've been looking for Calvin Preslar, not Calvin Webster. But two of them have it at least partially figured out, and hopefully, because I have connected Calvin to my family tree, more of his descendants will be able to climb a little further up their family tree.
Illegitimacy in the past is the source of many a "brickwall' ancestor. Whenever I come across the situation in old court records and such, I try to figure out who the people were, and sometimes I put them in a 'free-for all tree" on ancestry, for descendants to find. Sometimes, I write a post to help folks breakdown those brickwalls, whether its my family or not.
Nancy Webster was my 4th Great Grandmother. DNA proven.
Yesterday, my focus was on a 3rd Great Grandmother of mine, Susan Webster Faulkner, seen in some of her children's documents as "Susie". I hadn't nailed her down, yet. But as I often do, I followed my curiosity to see where it would lead. I had shelved Susan and her husband, John Faulkner, some time ago, as it was really leading no where. Sometimes you just have to give it a little space.
Fatal Accident
18 Feb 1846
Tarboro, North Carolina
Webster just wasn't an Anson County name, I mean, there wasn't a preponderance of them, say like with Boggans, Ingrams or Lees. I had saved the above clipping, just because there was one Webster mentioned in the Anson County Register of Deeds - Calvin Webster. He's mentioned twice, actually, but apparently I had not taken the time to read the things. Bad me!
Now, I don't know if the pitiable Mr. Calvin Webster, mentioned above as dying in Gold Hill, has anything to do with my family tree or not, but because his first name is Calvin and his last name is Webster, and he had lived in Chatham, Davidson and died in Rowan, I'm going to hang on to him, like a dangling participle, he could prove to be useful.
Besides the two mentions of Calvin Webster in the Land records, once as Grantee and the other as Grantor, there are scant mentions of any Websters in Anson County at all. There's only one in 1830.
Name:
Nancy Webster
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:
1
Free White Persons - Under 20:
3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
1
Total Free White Persons:
4
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
This lady, Malissa in 1850. Then there is this marriage bond from 1868. Oddly, the grooms mother's name was Susan.
Dec. 29, 1868
James C. Webster, s. ---- & Susan Webster, and Mary V. Hildreth, d. of Polly Hildreth.
Oldest Marriage Bonds on Record in County Complied by the Craighead-Dunlap Chapter Wadesboro, NC; February 1937, Virginia Horne, Regent LDS Family History Library, SLC, UT FILM #018125, Pages 110-124
So, who were Nancy, Malissa and James C Webster? By just reading the deeds, I began to connect the dots.
Susan Webster and John Faulkner, my third great grandparents, were married in 1856, according to he Anson County marriages database. They were living together and had children before then.
Anson County, NC - NC Marriages Database
496. Faulkner, A. W. L. (Jr) Barett, Martha J. 1865
497. Faulkner, A. W. L. (Sr.) Myers, Sarah Susan 1826
498. Faulkner, Elijah Huntley, Caroline M. 1855
499. Faulkner, John Webster, Susan 1856
500. Faulkner, Joseph White, Mary Caroline 1858
501. Fenn, Zachariah McCoy, Alecy 1780
502. Fesperman, David M. Covington, Serena 1854
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Marceline Beem <marceline@mindspring.com>
Here, other Faulkner marriages are also noted. They lived in the Lanesville and Lanes Creek area, and I've not been able to connect them with other Faulkners, yet. And there's sparse mention of any Websters. Then I took the time to look back at the two deeds that mention a Webster, and read them.
Calvin
Book Z Page 127Elias Preslar to Calvin Webster This Indenture made the 8th day of November, 1834 between Elias Preslar, Sr of the state of North Carolina and County of Anson of the one part and Calvin Webster of the same place of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Elias Preslar, for and in consideration of the natural love and affection he hath and bear towards the aforesaid Calvin Webster, whom he has thus far raised and who is reported to be an illegitimate son of his son of her own son, Erasmus Preslar, deceased, of NANCY WEBSTER for the above reason and for diverse other good causes and considerations.....unto Calvin Webster, two certain tracts of land lying and being in the county aforesaid and first tract adjoining Jordan Woodard and Amos Manus lands....containing 60 acres he aforesaid was granted to Jonathan Duck the 26th day of April 1823 and deeded to him the said Elias Preslar. Second tract.....lying on Flag Fork Branch near John Pooles Improvements containing 100 acres. Signed Elias Preslar Witnesses: John Preslar and Levi Preslar July 1835 This deed of gift was proven in open court by Levi Preslar, W. Dismukes, Clerk, N D Boggan, D C. Book 10 Page 200 Calvin Webster to Andrew J. Davis
For $212 Calvin Webster sold to Andrew J Davis two tracts of land.
The first tract of 60 acres adjoined Madame Woodward and Amos Manus. It appears Jordan Woodward was now deceased. The second tract was on Flag Fork branch near John Pooles improvements and conatined "100 acres more or less".
Witnesses were Jeremiah Keen and Edmund L. Davis.
To Summarize, Calvin Webster was the illegitimate son of Erasmus Preslar and Nancy Webster. His grandfather, Elias Preslar deeded him two tracts of land because he cared about the boy, and had been taking care of him. Several years later Calvin Webster turned around and sold both tracts to Andrew J. Davis. Elias Preslar, Sr. died in 1835, so he deeded this land to Calvin just before he died.
So, what happened to Calvin? He does not appear in any other records that I've came across in Anson County.
Going on a hunch, due to circumstances I've seen before, as in the case of Edmund Coley-Murray, son of Benjamin Murray and Fanny Coley, who I blogged on in "The Man with Two Names", who shows up as Edmund Coley in some census records and Edmond Murray in others, and whose 42 page estate records interchanged his name between Coley and Murray on every other page. Likewise with his cousin, Solomon Murray-Burris, son of Benjamin Murray's sister, Jane Murray and Joshua Christian Burris, Sr. He was referred to both ways. I began searching for Calvin Preslar and I found him. Not only did I find him, but I would discover other things that would blow my mind.
Name:
Calvin Preslar
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:
1
Persons Employed in Agriculture:
1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
1
Total Free White Persons:
1
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:
1
Legitimized by the acknowlegement of and inheritance from, his grandfather, Elias Preslar, Calvin changed his name to honor his father, Erasmus Preslar and his grandfather and became Calvin Preslar. He even witnessed one of his uncles deeds as Calvin Preslar. 1840 found him in his own household, alone in 1840, and he would sale his land this very year. But why? The resounding call of "Go West Young Man, and so he did.
Name
Calvin Preslar
Census Date
1845
County
Scott
Line
6
Roll
v229_2
His first stop was Scott County, Mississippi. He's listed there in State censuses and Tax Lists for 1843 and 1845. This is where he met and married Martha Thurman, his wife, and where their oldest son, William Roseberry Preslar, was born. He's listed in the 1845 census with 3 males and one female. That would be himself, his wife, and his two firstborn children, William and Benjamin Franklin Preslar.
The name Preslar would be "Southernized" to Presley and would go back and forth for awhile and be misspelled in multiple ways. So we find him and his young family in Louisiana in 1850. The " A" after William makes me think his middle name may have started out as "Asberry", common in Anson County.
The above clipping from the 1860 census of Polk County, Texas shows the movement of Calvin in the place of birth of his children. He lived in the town of Moscow, his neighbors professions indicate a town, as does his, so they lived within the town itself. He was near Dr, R. J. Walker, S. H. Adams, Innkeeper and D. Strauss, Merchant. Calvins family is listed as:
Calvin Preslar, 41, Grocer born in NC
Martha Preslar, 41 born im MS
William Rasberry Preslar, 17, born in MS
Amanda Jane Preslar, 12, born in LA
Francis C Preslar, 11, born in LA
Laura Ann Preslar, 9, born in LA
Sarah A Preslar, 5, born in TX
Lyda Ann Preslar, 3, born in TX
James Calvin Preslar, 6 months old, born in TX
There would be one more child after this, a daughter, Minerva Octavia, born in 1865 in TX. I don't know exactly when or where Calvin died, but his wife, Martha Thurman Preslar died in 1909 in Travis County, Texas.
Nancy
So, I had discovered that Nancy Webster was the mother of Calvin Webster and Erasmus Preslar, son of Elias Preslar, Sr. was his father. So looking back at the 1830 census record of Nancy Webster, some puzzle pieces begin to fit.
Name:
Nancy Webster
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:
1 Calvin
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:
1 Susan
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:
1 Malissa
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:
1 Nancy
Free White Persons - Under 20:
3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
1
Total Free White Persons:
4
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
4
There were only a few Websters mentioned in Anson County, that I could find. There was Nancy, her son Calvin, born 1817 or 1818, my Susan, born about 1827, and Malissa H. C. Webster, born about 1820. Things were about to come together. But was there any other way to link Nancy Webster to my Susan?
Above is a screenshot of the layout (neighbors) of Nancy Webster in the 1830 census of Anson County. He didn't make the cut, but it starts off with Thomas Carpenter, an ancestor of mine, whose wife, Betsy Broadaway Carpenter, I featured recently. Then there's Joshua Preslar, Charity Smith, Sarah Meggs, David, Henry and Joel Liles. Then Nancy is sandwiched in between Daniel Preslar and Stephen Preslar, which makes sense being she was the mistress of Erasmus Preslar.The list is finished off with Samuel Ponds and Allen Smith.
Now, let's jump ahead 20 years. Below is a screenshot of the 1850 census of Anson County, fearuring John Faulkner and Susan Webster Faulkner and family.
It starts off with Richard Carpenter, then there is the Faulkners, Joshua Wright, Alred Caudle, Joshua Preslar is still alive at 70, Daniel Preslar and lastly Jesse Caudle.
Despite being two decades ahead in time, and the natural changes that go with that, there's enough still identifiable to see that John and Susan were pretty much located in 1850 where Nancy was in 1830.
But what happened to Nancy? I guess one could naturally assume she may have died. But something told me that there was more to Nancy. I felt she would lead the way.
If you recall, Calvin Webster Preslars first stop after leaving Anson was Scott County, Mississippi. I was plundering about Scott County (online) and discovered a Nancy Webster, from Anson County, NC, who had married a man named Enoch Parrot or Perrett or Peirott. I will stick with Perrett as I see it most often.
Enoch
Enoch Perrett was born in North Carolina in 1798 - 1800. I believe closer to 1798, because he served in the military in 1817-1818.
Name:
Enoch Parrot
Alias:
Parrott
Birthyear:
abt 1799
Birthplace:
North Carolina, United States
Enlistment Age:
18
The record said he was from Pendleton, North Carolina, that he was 5 foot 10, black hair, light eyes and
We'll come back to that in a minute.
Name
Enoch Perrett
Land Office
Augusta
Document Number
2504
Total Acres
38.66
Signature
Yes
Canceled Document
No
Issue Date
5 Jan 1841
Mineral Rights Reserved
No
Metes and Bounds
No
Statutory Reference
3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names
No
Act or Treaty
April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names
No
Entry Classification
Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description
1 NESW CHOCTAW No 6N 7E 2
He first shows up in Mississippi in 1820 and that could have something to do with his military service.
Name
Enoch Parett
Home in 1830 (City, County, State)
Simpson, Mississippi
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14
1
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39
1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19
1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39
1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59
1
Free White Persons - Under 20
2
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49
2
Total Free White Persons
5
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored)
5
His first census was the 1830 one, so while he was in Simpson County, Mississippi, Nancy Webster was in Anson. He had married a first time to an unknown wife, and looks like he may also have had a mother or mother-in-law living with him.
He has a number of land patents from 1820 to 1845.
In the 1840 census and in the 1845 Mississippi State census, he has relocated to Scott County.
Simpson County Scott County
By 1850, he is back to Simpson County. He likely met Nancy Webster in Scott County in the late 1830's and had married her by 1840.
Enoch was a blacksmith and very obviously a well-respected and needed member of the community. That will be clear in time.
The combined family of Enoch and Nancy was large. In the 1850 census, Parrot was mistranscribed "Karrob" on the family members listed before John Webster, who was 18, and born in North Carolina, Nancy Webster's son she had prior to the marriage, and after 1830.
Enoch is 52 and Nancy is 48. Sarah, Daniel and Mary Parrott (Perrett) were all born in Mississippi and were Enoch's chilren by his first marriage. Ann, Enoch Jr., Adaline and Susan were also born in Ole Miss and were the children of Enoch and Nancy. Then there's Nancy's son John. After John is Enoch's son James, his wife, Isabel and their baby, Colon.
There's something odd about this census, too, but it was not a transcription error. Enoch Perrett was a mulatto, a person of mixed ancestry. He must have been a very light mulatto, as his military records state he had light skin, and eyes, but black hair. Nancy was white, and in this census, so were his children. In the 1830 census, if you recall, everyone was listed as white. But, make no mistake, Enoch was a Free Person of Color, married to a white woman, when that was illegal.
Enoch owned a slave, just one, a 53 year old man. He was probably a helper in the blacksmith's shop.
Blacksmith by John Falter
Enoch Perritt from the Digital Library of American Slavery
Petition 11083305 Details
State:MississippiLocation:SimpsonLocation Type:CountySalutation:To the Hon. the Senate & House of Representatives of the state of Mississippi (, )Filing Date:circa 1833
General Petition Information
Abstract:More than twenty Simpson County residents write in behalf of Enoch Perritt, "a yellow man or one of that Class of our Citizens whom the Laws of this State term Mulatto and that under those Laws the said Enoch is taxed to the amount of about Seven dollars per annum." Such an amount, they assert, is oppressive. Enoch is a blacksmith by trade, peaceable and temperate, one of the most useful "Citizens of the County." The petitioners ask that he be "placed on a footing with other free Citizens of the State" with regard to taxation. Also they ask that he may be protected by "the laws of this state in relation of proving open accounts extended to him as to other individuals." In a related petition, more than fifty other residents also petitioned for tax relief in favor of Enoch Perritt.Result: # of Petition Pages:2Related Documents:See PAR #11083304Pages of Related Documents:0People Associated with Petition 11083305Slaves:0Free Persons of Color:1Defendants:0Petitioners:10Other People:0
Citation Information
Repository: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi
Legislative Papers, Petitions and Memorials
Record Group: 47
Document Number
Box:
Folder:
Book:
Volume: 20
Page:
Microfilm:
Processing Information
Record Created:1/1/1995Record Final Edited:4/1/1998Record Last Updated on:11/14/2007 9:53:00 AM
Lousiana Creole "Mixed" Civil War Soldier
There are posts online that express the wonderment of Enoch's descendants of the respect, the freedom and acceptance that Enoch held in the community. All of Enoch's children married persons of European decent. It is recorded that his first wife was also white, as was Nancy, so his children, and most definately his grandchildren, probably showed no signs of African ancestry and no one questioned their standing in the community. His oldest son James, fought in the Civil War with equal standing to those around him.
Enoch killed a man named Berry Powell, he stood trial, and though I haven't seen transcripts of the trial, he apparantly came out no worse the wear and business as usual. He married a white woman when it was not legal. He carried a gun when people of color were usually not allowed. When any problem affronted him because of his partial African heritage, his neighbors came to the forefront and defended him.
The below excerpt is from, "An Early History of Simpson County, Mississippi", by Bee King. This is a very entaining collection of stories about the odd charactors of early Simpson County, MS. It tells of rough times and unusual circumstances. Mr. King could have rivaled Mark Twain.
By that time, the sun was up and they hurried back to the camp. Before they reached the camp they met the
wagons already on the road. Mr. Rials gave them something to eat and they told him of what they had seen, and
that they thought one of the men was the preacher that held a meeting that summer at the bush arbor, up on the
hill east of the mill and that they were sure he was riding the same horse that Mr. Franklin Plummer rode to
court at the mill when they tried Enoch Perrett for shooting Berry Powell.
Enoch Powell had an influentitial friend and associate named Mr. Joseph Boggan. Now there's an Anson County name if I ever heard one. In fact, Joseph Boggan appears last in the 1820 census of Anson County. He and his brother, James, came from a priveledged and influential family in Anson and migrated to Mississippi to establish plantations and make their fortunes. They were uncompromising and dominant men, and they had to be. So there is another connection.
If you are thinking, well, just because this colorful and barrier-breaking Enoch Perrett married a Nancy Webster, that doesn't mean it's the same Nancy Webster.
There's a few more clues. Remember that Nancy's son Calvin Webster/ Preslar came first to Scott County, Mississippi? There he married one Martha Thurman. Well, Enoch Perrett's oldest daughter, Nancy Jane, married her brother, William W. Thurman. But there's more.
Recall that Nancy was the mistress of Erasmus Preslar, son of Elias Preslar, Jr. Well, check out the 1840 census of Scott County, Mississippi.
In 1840, Elias Preslar is living right next door to Enoch Perrett. Now, this isn't Calvin's grandfather, Elias Preslar. He died in 1835. This is Elias Preslar Jr., son of Elias Sr. and brother of Calvin's father, Erasmus. But it gets better.....
Guess what the name of Elias Preslar, Jr.'s wife was? Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Webster. So Elias Preslar, brother of Erasus Preslar, who married Polly Webster, is living right next door to Enoch Perrett, who married Nancy Webster, in Scott County, Mississippi, both being from Lanesboro, Anson County, NC. With Scott County being the same place Nancy's son and Elias's nephew, Calvin Webster-Preslar relocated to and where he married, Martha Thurman, sister-in-law of Enoch Perrett's daughter, Nancy Jane Perrett Thurman.
Sometimes, this far back, certain records are ellusive. Sometimes there are no concrete records. But here is a preponderance of circumstantial evidence, that 's not just a smoking gun, it's a battlefield of smoking guns.
I also found another Webster female from the same area of Anson County as Nancy and the Preslars.There was a Sarah Webster who married Robin Broadway, a family I am going to dive into soon, as I have two lines of Broadways.
Sarah Webster Broadway was born in 1798.
Mary Elizabeth Webster Preslar was born in 1800.
Nancy Webster Perrett was born in 1802.
Websters in Anson County was as rare as hen's teeth. It would not be too far a streach of the imagination to believe these three were sisters. Especially when two of them traveled half a country away to live side by side.
The Preslars didn't stay in Mississippi, and I bet you couldn't guess where they ended up next. Remember Calvin Webster Preslar's next stop was Louisiana, and not just any random part of Louisiana, but Bienville County, Louisiana. So there were Elias and Polly Webster Preslar as well.
Elias and Polly have a story of their own. My point here is to show the connection to Nancy and her son. Polly even named a daugther Nancy.
Elias and Polly raised a large family. They were:
1826-1870 Mary Holly aka "Minnie" Preslar
1827-1915 William Culpepper "Cull" Preslar
1831-1896 Nancy Eliza Ann Preslar
1834-1890 Bryant R. Preslar
1835 - ? Mary E. Preslar
1840-1920 Frances Colon Preslar
I'd like to know the significance of the name "Colon", I've seen it run through these families. Even Enoch Perretts son James named his oldest child, "Colon". I also wonder what the Culpepper connection was, if they were possibly related to either the Preslars or the Websters.
A few of the family trees for Elias and Polly have her parents as a John Webster, with no attached records, or proof of any kind, and a Holly Tomlinson. Their oldest daughter was Mary Holly Preslar. May be. And I don't know where John Webster came from, except that Nancy named her youngest son, whom she brought to Missisisppi, John Webster, age 18 in the 1850 census.
The Perrett branch has a different idea. They speculate that a Jesse Webster, who patented property in Scott County, Missisppi, right next to Nancy Webster and near Elias Preslar and Enoch Perrett in 1841, might be Nancy's father. They also suggest the older man 60-69 living in Enoch's household in the 1840 census could be this Jesse. This is more viable. However, where is this Jesse in Anson County, where Nancy and the Preslars arrived from? There's no trace.
Name:
Jesse Webster
Land Office:
Augusta
Document Number:
6564
Total Acres:
40.16
Signature:
Yes
Canceled Document:
No
Issue Date:
5 Jan 1841
Mineral Rights Reserved:
No
Metes and Bounds:
No
Statutory Reference:
3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names:
No
Act or Treaty:
April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names:
No
Entry Classification:
Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:
1 SENE CHOCTAW No 6N 7E 22
Mary Elizabeth Webster Preslar died in Sparta, Bienville County, LA in 1884. Elias had died in 1877.
I am going to be looking more closely at the younger generations of their family, as well as Calvin's and the Perretts to see what else I can discover, possibly more connections and information.
Bienville Parrish is famous for being the place Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed.
In the meantime, I had a few loose Websters up top to clear up.
Dec. 29, 1868
James C. Webster, s. ---- & Susan Webster, and Mary V. Hildreth, d. of Polly Hildreth.
This 1868 marriage bond is for James Coleman Webster, son of my 3rd Great Grandmother and Mary Virginia Hildreth, daughter of Polly Hildreth. Now, both parties were born out of wedlock and while one might think the newspapers would not print those for this class of people, not too far in the listing was also the marriage license of George Washington Nash to his second wife, where it proudly gives his parents as Benjamin Hutson and Nancy Nash. I've researched George Washington Nash as he has a prettey interesting divorce proceeding from his first wife, Mary, in the Stanly County Superior Court records. I've also posted on the gruesome murder supposedly committed by Nancy Nash's brother Tom.
James first appears as a 5 year old James Coleman in the household of Richard Carpenter along with an elderly Abner Boggan and wife, Martha. The very next listing is John Faulkner and Susan Webster Faulkner, James' mother. In fact, as John and Susan didn't actually get married until 1856, she wasn't legally a Faulkner yet.
In 1860, a 15 year old James Coleman is living with his mother and stepfather, John Faulkner. The erroneous transcibers, not knowing James had a different last name, labelled all of the younger children as Coleman's.
James took the Faulkner name, by formal or informal adoption, I do not know, but he and wife, Mary Virginia Hildreth Faulker bore and raised 4 children:Mary Elizabeth, B. Shelton, Catherine and Bessie. Their children were all Faulkners.
In 1870, Abner Boggan, the elderly man who was also living with the Carpenter family, left a will.
Will Book D, Page 12 In the name of God, Amen. I, Abner Boggan of the county of Anson and State of North Carolina, beign at present weak in body, but of a sound, disposing mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, and calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, hath made this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows. 1st, I give and bequeath to James Coleman Webster, the tract of land on which I live, containing ninety acres as per deed now on record, after the deceause of myself and wife, to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever. I also give unto the said J. C. Webster, three beds and furniture, with all my plantation tools, together with all my stock of horses, cows, sheep and hogs."
Abner then goes on to request the payment of his and his wife's debts and appoints his trusted friend, Miles W. Mask as executor.
Abner Boggan must have become very fond of the boy when he was small. I don't know who James's father was. It may have been a Mr. Coleman, but I doubt very seriously it was the elderly Mr. Boggan.
Name:
Nancy Webster
State:
MS
County:
Scott County
Township:
No Township Listed
Year:
1841
Page:
000
Database:
MS 1841 State Census Index
Nancy Webster was counted in the 1841 and 1845 Mississippi state census records as a Webster, living near to Elias Preslar. She married Enoch Perrett between 1845 and 1850. He died in 1863 and she is listed as a Perrett, alone, in the 1866 State census.
Name:
Nancy Perritt
Census Date:
1866
County:
Simpson
Line:
33
Roll:
v229_2
Nancy must have died between 1866 and 1870. In Summary, Nancy appeared in the 1830 census of Anson County. She was living between two Preslars in the Lanes Creek area and had one young boy and two girls in her household. The ages match up to Calvin, Susan and a Malissa Webster from the 1850 census in the same area.
Elias Preslar Sr. deeds a gift of land to Calvin Webster, names him as the son of Elias's son, Erasmus and Nancy Webster. Calvin changes his name to his father's, Preslar and moves to Scott County, Missisippi. His uncle Elias Preslar, who is married to a Polly Webster, also moves to Scott County.
Nancy Webster and Elias Preslar are listed in the 1841 and 1845 state census records of Scott County. In the 1840 census, Elias Preslar is living next door to Enoch Perrett, who came from Simpson County, MS previously. Between 1845 and 1850 Enoch Perrett marries Nancy Webster.
In the 1850 census, Nancy Perrott is living with Enoch's family and her son, John Webster, born 1832 in Anson, NC. In 1860, Enoch and Nancy are together in Simpson County, MS. Enoch dies in 1863, Nancy before 1870. Son Calvin and his uncle Elias Preslar remove to Bienville Parrish, LA.
Calvin married the sister of Enoch's son-in-law. Some of the Perrett's followed them.
Research on Nancy and her family is ongoing. Remember, this is a theory of mine, not carved in stone. Was she my 4th Great Grandmother? I believe so, and I hope I can find more coinsidences that will cement her into the family tree. I'm already getting additional leads.
