John Bell Land

In the 126-page estate file of Henry Delamothe, located at Family Search, the first document in the folder is a summons to the sheriff of Montgomery County to take the bodies of John Morris, this John may be my third great grandfather, or it could be his son, John Jr, George Washington Morris, my third great uncle, and Nelson Harris, to have these three men at the court house in Lawrenceville on the last Monday in February 1844 to answer John C. Atkins, executor of Henry Delamothe Dec’d, of a plea of covenants broken to his damage $50.

Nelson Harris, the son of William Harris, was born about 1810 and died in 1857. He married Nancy Ingram in 1845, sister to Abigale Ingram, who married Nelson’s brother, Parsons Harris. Of interest, Grandison Morris, brother to George Washington Morris mentioned in the document, named his son, Parsons Harris Morris, who later, in 1870, became the Register of Deeds for Montgomery County, a position which he held for many years. It is obvious, based on the document, as well as, the fact that a son was named after one of them, that Nelson and Parsons Harris had a relationship with at least two members of my Morris family, Grandison and George. What kind and how close that relationship was, I hope to find out.

On page 40 of the estate file is found a rental agreement between John Morris Jr, Nelson Harris and John Atkins, the executor of Henry Delamothe. John Jr rented, from Jan 1843 to Jan 1844, the houses and plantation whereon the said J. Morris now lives, for $10. The rental agreement has a clause that the houses and plantation shall not be abused in any way nor is the timber to be cut except such as may be necessary to fence the plantation and for fire wood. The testator was Francis J. Kron, the doctor who migrated from Prussia, and the nephew-in-law to Henry Delamothe.

On page 42 of the Henry Delamothe estate file is a rental agreement between John Morris, Washington Morris and Nelson Harris dated 28 Oct 1840. The rental agreement is for John Morris to rent of John Atkins executor of Henry Delamothe, the house and plantation whereon John Morris now lives called the John Bell land, for twelve months from Jan 1841 to Jan 1842 for the sum of $15. As the document states that John Morris now lives on this land, it is assumed that John probably had lived on the land the previous year as well and most likely rented the land from year to year, although, I do not know what year John first lived on the John Bell land. The same terms apply as before, that the house and plantation shall not be abused in any way and no shade trees about the house shall be cut or timber in the woods shall be cut except what may be needed for fencing or for firewood.

Now, both John Morris Sr and John Morris Jr are listed as miners on every Census past 1850, so, they probably would not have been a tenant farmer on the John Bell land, relying on crops for their lively hood. Most likely, enough crops and livestock were raised to feed the immediate family and the home that was leased from Henry Delamothe was just that, a home and nothing more. The rent paid would assist Henry Delamothe with additional income to pay property taxes on the land.

John Bell, no doubt is related to, and probably the son of, Joseph Bell, who was born about 1732, migrating to Anson County around 1773; per land grant info, he settled in those parts that became Montgomery in 1779. Joseph lived near the mouth of Cedar Creek on the west bank of the (Uwharrie) River, at the foot of the (Buck?) Mountain. His name appears on a petition in 1777 to divide Anson to form Montgomery and by 1790, he, and his sons, Richard, David, John and Benjamin, all born prior to 1774, show up on the Montgomery County Census. Joseph is said to have died about 1818 in Henderson, Montgomery County, North Carolina. I have yet to find his estate file, although I have seen references made to it, and I am sure upon Joseph’s death, and perhaps even before, he divided his land among his lawful heirs.

It is said by some that Joseph is the progenitor of all the Bell’s in this area, however, Land Grants were issued to William Bell and Thomas Bell in 1752 and 1753, some 20 years before Joseph Bell entered his first land grant in Anson County in 1773. More research is required to determine if there is a connection between these Bell men. William and Thomas lived on the Broad River, current day York County, South Carolina, while Joseph lived on the Uwharrie River, current day Montgomery County, North Carolina. So, just because these men have the same last name, and lived at one time, in the same county (Anson), does not necessarily mean there is any close relationship, or any relationship at all. Boundary lines changed very quickly back then, genealogy and geography go hand in hand.

John Bell can be found on records from as early as 1777 in Anson County when he, like his father, signed the petition to divide Anson to form Montgomery. He is found in 1784 and 1787 State Census records and on the Federal Census in years, 1790, 1800 and 1810.

John Bell had two land grants that I could find. A 7 Jun 1799 grant for 150 acres, west side of Uwharrie River beginning at Richard Bell's [brother of John] corner white oak on the bank of the river, running across the said river to Joseph Bell's [father of John] corner oak, then crossing the river [again] and running to Joseph Bell's [father of John] corner, then to Harris's line to Porterfield's line to Benjamin Bell's [brother of John] line.

John Porterfield was granted, through his Assignee, David Allison, 42,324 acres of land in Montgomery County, North Carolina in the year 1795. However, John Porterfield never lived in Montgomery County, he made his home in Orange County and had offices in Fayetteville (Cross Creek). The land he was granted in Montgomery County may have been sold off to persons who were willing to migrate to Montgomery County or to citizens of the county who were looking to become land owners. In other words, he was a land speculator.

John’s office in Fayetteville was used to process payments for officers and soldiers who had served in the continental army and had claims for pay arrearages. I’m sure he charged a fee for his services. David Allison, the Assignee of John Porterfield, and many others, was caught up in several scandalous lawsuits over his lifetime, as well as the lifetime of his heirs.

A second land grant issued to John Bell on 29 Nov 1817 for 50 acres, beginning at a white oak east of Uwharrie River standing by William Callicoat’s (Callicutt) corner pine, and runs with Callicoat’s line north to a stake, west to the bank of the river, up the east bank of the river to a large white oak just below Hurley's fish trap, then west crossing the river to his own line, south to his corner, then with Joseph Bell's [father of John] line south to the river, down the west bank of the river to the upper end of the river and a direct coarse to the beginning.

I am not able to find any record of John Bell after his 1819 land grant. I can only assume that he died between 1820 (that Census being destroyed) and 1830 as he is not found on a Census record. It is unfortunate that early Montgomery County land records were also destroyed. Researchers can only use what records remain for the county to try and piece together events in those early days.

At some point after 1819, I think it is possible that Henry Delamothe bought the John Bell land. Henry, at some point, began renting the plantation and my Morris ancestors rented the land. I now have more documentation to include to my timeline for my Morris ancestors, as well as, timelines of Henry Delamothe and John Bell and other Bell family members.

In my next post I will refer to Richard Bell, the brother of John Bell and how, while researching the Bell family I have once again been brought back full circle to the Morgan family – I can’t seem to stay away from them, even if I try!

Cranford vs Morris…the story of Charlie and Annie

I love reading through old court files at the archives in Raleigh or online at Family Search. Supreme Court files usually offer a plethora of information that can tie families together, as was the case when I discovered who the real parents of Willis Morgan are, or can certainly offer colorful details about a family. Several months ago, I discovered such a case concerning the killing of a hog by my first cousin three times removed, John Thomas Morris. I am just now getting around to writing about it.

John is the son of William Morris and Margaret Lewis of Montgomery County, North Carolina. He was born in 1859, just prior to the Civil War, known as the Antebellum Era, at a time when North Carolina was coming out of what became known as a “Rip Van Winkle” condition due to the states under development.

Constitutional reforms of 1835 paved the way for a quarter-century of development in the state that led to the building of railroads and plank roads; support for a public school system; the establishment of institutions for the care of the blind, deaf, and mentally ill; reformed tax system; changes in the legal status of women; the improvement of agricultural and manufacturing conditions; and the growth of the University of North Carolina and other colleges, academies, and religious agencies. (https://www.ncpedia.org/rip-van-winkle-state)

In September of 1889, John was 30 years old. He had married Caroline Hall, daughter of Murrill (sometimes seen as Merrill) and Susannah Tuner Hall, several years earlier, on 1 Jan 1882, at the home of his first cousin, Joseph Morris, in Uwharrie Township. The Hall’s, as previously noted in other posts, are inner-connected in some way to the Morgan and Beckerdite families and have connections to Randolph County, NC to the Kearns and Steed families. I am slowly working my way through this web of mazes to fully understand the intricate details.

Joseph Morris is my second great uncle, the son of Thomas and Mary Williams Morris. He married Margaret Rosina Merritt, the daughter of John and Deborah Sanders Merritt, who happen to serve as my maternal third great grandparents, in 1877. I made mention of John and Deborah in my post, Temperance Morris, wife of Jacob Sanders, and a Blog about the Merritt’s is forthcoming...someday.

So, it was on the day of John’s sixth wedding anniversary, 1 Jan 1888, that he was accused of unlawfully maiming and killing a hog inside an enclosure, and not surrounded by a lawful fence, that evidently belonged to the man that would in the future become his oldest son, Charlie’s, father-in-law. But, John did not know that at the time. John plead not guilty.

The charges were that John shot and killed a hog, the property of William Stokes Cranford, noted as W.S. in the court papers, near the residence of John’s father, William, whose farm was within what was called a neighborhood enclosure or fence, but not a stock law fence, as was Cranford’s farm, and many others, within the same fence, the farms separated by a creek over which stock could easily pass.

The Grand Jury, only calling two of the four witnesses, William Stokes Cranford and George Henderson, as the other two witnesses were not summoned, the case was continued to the fall session for the want of evidence.

The court document is not very clear on who the witness, George Henderson, might be, but certainly it must be one of two George Henderson’s. One George was the son of Lockey Henderson, born about 1846. The second George was the son of Alexander Henderson, born about 1858.

Again, at the fall session, the case was continued as the grand jury made no presentment of the case. The bill was again sent to the grand jury at the Spring term of court in 1889, but the court believed the statute of limitations had expired, and John was found not guilty by the lower court. Therefore, the state appealed to the Supreme Court.

Unfortunately, the remainder of the file has been lost to history and I will never know if John was, or was not, found guilty of killing the hog of William Stokes Cranford in an enclosure.

What I do know is that, in an ironic twist of fate, John’s oldest son, Charlie, grew up to marry Annie Cranford, the oldest daughter of William Stokes Cranford and Mary (Fannie) Morris in Aug 1904.

William Stokes Cranford was, according to his death certificate, born in Montgomery County on 22 Sep 1854 to Richard and Adaline Hurley Cranford. I have not done much research on the Cranford or Hurley lines, but these surnames are in my family tree and I will, someday, find the time to thoroughly research these families. I do know there is a Y-DNA project for the Cranford surname at Family Tree DNA. William married Mary Frances Morris in 1878.

Mary Frances, called Fannie, Morris descends from Sampson and Mary Hunsucker Morris, and is part of the Morris family that I refer to as the John ‘Bushyhead’ family. Sampson was the nephew of John Bushyhead Morris, his father, Reuben and John Bushyhead being brothers. This is a separate Morris family, as Y-DNA testing has proven, from my own John Jacky Morris family, whom Charlie, the son of John, who was charged with killing the hog, descends from.

Charlie and Annie Cranford Morris made their home in the Uwharrie area of Montgomery County. In 1910, the newly married couple reside next door to Charlie’s parents and showing that two children have been born to this marriage, but only one is now living.

The 1920 Census provides some tantalizing details on the families of Montgomery County. The Census taker provided the name of the road where the family dwelling was located. The Morris’s and the Harris’s lived on River Road in Uwharrie Township. That road still exists today, running parallel to the Yadkin and Pee Dee River between Hwy 24/27 and Hwy 109.

The Tucker’s lived on what was then called Lowder Ferry Road. That road no longer exists on maps today that I can find. In fact, all mentions of the road are referred to as on the Stanly side of the river.

Lowder’s Ferry was located on the west bank of the Yadkin, across from the Yadkin’s confluence with the Uwharrie River. From the Montgomery side of the river, I would guess that the road would be located directly across the river from the Morrow Mountain boat launch, near the end of Morrow Mountain Road.

In speaking with the grandson of Milas Tucker, he remembers his grandfather living at the end of Morton Road and there being a ferry at or near the end of that road called Lowder's Ferry. 

The Cook’s, Hunsucker’s and Morton’s lived on Liberty Hill Road, now called Liberty Hill Church Road.

1930 looks to have brought my entire family to the same area in Uwharrie. Charlie and Annie are living next door to my great grandparents, Travis and Lillie Marks Morris. My second great uncle, Frank Brock, and his wife, Grace, who is my great aunt through my paternal grandmother, is living next door to Travis and Lillie. Frank was first married to Sallie Marks, the sister of Lillie. My grandmother, the daughter of Travis and Lillie, would grow up to marry a nephew of Frank Brock. John and Caroline, Charlie’s parents, are living next door to Frank and Grace.

Between 1930 and 1935, Charlie and Annie move to Eldorado, the community next to Uwharrie. On this Census, the question is asked, “Residence city in 1935?” and Charlie answered, “Same house.” So, I know he moved from Uwharrie to Eldorado between 1930, when he is listed as living in Uwharrie, and 1935 as he stated he had been in the same house for five years, on the 1940 Census. Charlie, listed in previous Census’ as working in the Lumber Mill, now shows he is a Logger, working in the saw mill industry.

By 1950, a tool and die maker in Troy, NC, by the name of Hugh Clark, invents a device to speed up log sawing. Charlie Morris, a log turner, is shown in the Newspaper demonstrating how the device works.

Charlie and Annie remained in the Uwharrie area of Montgomery County their entire lives. Both died in the mid-1970s around 90 years of age and are buried at Uwharrie United Methodist Church Cemetery in Uwharrie Township.

Morris x2

On the 16th day of July 1869, Parsons Harris Morris, then Register of Montgomery County, being the son of Grandison and Mary Williams Morris, and my first cousin three times removed, issued a license for the Rites of Matrimony to be solemnized between William Morris, son of Thomas and Polly Williams Morris, and Martha Uriah Hall, daughter of John and Hannah Steed Hall. Nathan W. Smart, Justice of the Peace, on 17 Jul 1869, solemnized said Rites. From this union was born Lula Bell Morris, called Lou, on 22 Dec 1888, who is my first cousin, twice removed.

Ancestry.com

William and Martha Hall Morris would, in 1900, make their home in Randleman, Randolph County, North Carolina. No surprises there, as his wife’s Hall family can be found living between Randolph and Montgomery Counties as far back as the late 1700s and up to the early 1800s.

Ancestry.com

Lula (Lou) Belle married Marvin Westmoreland on 3 Nov 1903 in Davidson County, North Carolina. Her brother, Charles P. Morris, signs as witness to the marriage. Little did Lou Belle Morris know that she was marrying into another Morris family.

Ancestry.com

The Westmoreland family hails from Stokes County, North Carolina and before that, Richmond County, Virginia, formed in 1692 when the first Rappahannock County was divided to form Richmond County and Essex County. In the marriage record above, Marvin’s name is mistranslated as Marion. Future records show his name is indeed Marvin.

Marvin’s great grandparents, who both were born and died in Germanton, Stokes County, North Carolina, are William Westmoreland, 1799-1847, and Charity Morris, 1807-1870. Charity’s parents are Presley Morris, 1775-1815, and Charity Hutchins, 1778-1828. Presley descends from Edward Morris, 1708-1752, and Mary Hammond, 1707-1803, through their son, Hammond Morris, 1733-1810, and Mary Tuttle, 1735-1778.

This is the fourth Morris family that I have encountered in the search for my fourth great grandparents, the parents of John Jacky Morris. Descendants of three of these Morris families have been Y-DNA tested, several of them by me, and Y-DNA shows these Morris’s as three separate families.

I do not know if the Presley Morris line has been Y-DNA tested, but would, obviously, like to see those results compared to my own Morris line. My own atDNA matches, as well as the kits I manage for my Morris family, show many Westmoreland connections, all distant matches, 5th to 8th cousin matches with low cM values, but all going back to William Westmoreland, 1799-1847, and Charity Morris, 1807-1870.

Family Tree DNA

I am particularly interested in this line of Morris’s for two reasons. First, per the trees of my atDNA matches, at least one of these Morris’s ended up in what today is the Clarksville area of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Presley Morris had a brother, Jesse Morris, 1742-1807, who married Jane Pointer (Jones); there seems to be much confusion on her maiden name being Pointer or Jones, is one a maiden name and the other a previously married name, or perhaps the maiden name of her mother? More research is required to fully straighten this matter out. At any rate, this couple, Jesse and Jane, made their home in Mecklenburg County, Virginia – the same area where my third great grandfather, John Jacky Morris, is believed to have been born. Per Find-A-Grave:

Jesse Morris Sr. and Jane Pointer married about 1775. With estate money left to him by his father, Edward E. Morris Jr., the couple bought land in Mecklenburg Co, VA (some of the land today is also part of Brunswick Co, VA, which borders Mecklenburg, where they grew tobacco and lived the rest of their lives. Until they died, they never lived anywhere else but on their farm in Mecklenburg, VA. 

They had 7 children. Jesse Sr. was well respected. He died at the age of 61. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168040333)

Second, descendants’ trees show another brother, Shadrick Morris, ended up in Limestone County, Alabama, the same place where a current Y-DNA match lives, so, for these reasons, I am highly motivated to begin tracing this line to see what, if any, connections to my own Morris family I can find.

The 1910 Census shows Marvin and Lou making their home in Davidson County with daughters Nellie, born 1907, and Clara, born 1909.

Ancestry.com

Jun 1912 brought the most tragic event to a family that could ever be delivered. Clara, the young daughter of Marvin and Lou Morris Westmoreland, was murdered by Jesse Morris, her uncle and brother to her mother. Clara is buried at Fair Grove Methodist Church in Thomasville.

By 1920, Marvin and Lou are still in Thomasville, Davidson County and Marvin makes his living in the cotton mills, as so many families did at that time. Several children have been added to the family since the last Census, Geneva (1911) Rebecca (1913), Marvin Jr (1914), Mary (1916), and Lois (1918).

Ancestry.com

1930 shows the family still living in Thomasville, Davidson County, but Marvin has changed occupations, from the cotton mills to a Layman in a chair factory. Marvin Jr is also working in the chair factory. Two daughters, Mary and Lois, are working in the cotton mill as Spoolers. Raborn Thrift, son of Geneva, another daughter, is in the home of his grandparents.

Ancestry.com

29 Jan 1933 brought the death of Marvin. He must have been in failing health as it is noted he had been unemployed for six months. Lou reported his death.

Ancestry.com

1940 shows Lou working as a Matron in the Public School. Living at home are Marvin Jr, Ruth, Joseph and two grandchildren, Lucy and Rory.

Ancestry.com

Lou Belle Morris Westmoreland died in 1943 at the age of 55. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren left to carry the legacy of two Morris families.

Ancestry.com

DNA Testing – A Beginning Foundation

Due to all the questions I have received from readers, family members, and friends, about my own DNA testing, I have decided to incorporate into this Blog some things that I have learned along the way that have helped me in understanding my own DNA testing results. The following is not all inclusive, and is simply a foundation that anyone can use to build upon to expand their knowledge and understanding of their DNA testing results. I have listed some valuable resources at the end that you will want to use to further your journey with your own DNA testing results.

First and foremost, all genealogical sources, including DNA testing, have the potential to reveal unexpected relationships or the lack of an expected relationship. You, the tester, must anticipate these possibilities and consider the potential emotions and reactions of ALL involved. Be prepared for the unexpected. The worst possible unexpected result is finding out a parent is not your biological parent or who you thought was a full sibling is only a half sibling. If this knowledge is going to rip your life, or the life of your parents & siblings apart, it may be best not to DNA test. On the other hand, you have an absolute right to your own genetic heritage. Each individual must make the best decision for themselves.

If you decide to Autosomal DNA test, there are some basics that you must understand in order to interpret your DNA results.

1) Family relationships
It is imperative to understand family relationships and where that relationship fits in a family tree
Full siblings share parents (common ancestor couple)
First cousins share grandparents (common ancestor couple)
Second cousins share great grandparents (common ancestor couple)
Third cousins share 2nd great grandparents(common ancestor couple)
Fourth cousins share 3rd great grandparents (common ancestor couple)
Fifth cousins share 4th great grandparents (commn ancetor couple)

Removed cousins:
The word removed means that the cousins come from different generations
Once removed means that cousins are one generation apart
Twice removed means that cousins are two generations apart

Your first cousin once removed is the child or parent of your first cousin
Your second cousin once removed is the child or parent of your second cousin
Your first cousin twice removed is the grandchild or grandparent of your first cousin
Your second cousin twice removed is the grandchild or grandparent of your second cousin

Drawing out the relationship on paper is a good way to catch hold of the meaning of removed cousins. Here is what my own parent’s cousin relationship looks like and how I am related in multiple ways to Thomas Morris, who serves as my 2nd and 3rd great grandfathers.

https://uwharrieroots.blogspot.com/2019/10/thomas-morris-my-second-great.html

2) How you got your DNA
At conception, every human inherits 6 billion base pairs of DNA packaged into 46 chromosomes
You get 3 billion base pairs (23 chromosomes) from Mom and 3 billion base pairs (23 chromosomes) from Dad

The first 22 chromosome pairs are called Autosomes and are numbered 1 through 22 (and is where the name Autosomal DNA testing comes from)

The 23rd pair are called the sex (or gender) chromosomes X and Y
Men inherit an X chromosome from their mother and a Y chromosome from their father (XY)
Women inherit an X chromosome from their father and an X chromosome from their mother (XX)

Your father got 50% of his DNA from his father and 50% from his mother = a combination of all four of his grandparents

Your mother got 50% of her DNA from her father and 50% from her mother = a combination of all four of her grandparents

You received 50% of your DNA from your father and 50% from your mother = a combination of all four of your grandparents

The DNA you received from your grandparents, through your parents, is a combination of all 8 of your great grandparents, so, every DNA match you have will lead from one of your grandparent's lines through your great grandparents

In reality, DNA testing traces all four of your grandparent lines

There are methods and tools (Leeds Method, Q&D Trees, GEDmatch, DNA Painter, Triangulation, Shared Matches, In Common With, Chromosome Browsers, cM Project) that can be used to assist in determining the relationship to a DNA match and which of your four grandparent lines a match connects to.

3) How does the DNA testing company know what relationship you share with a DNA match?
Using a measurement called centimorgans (cM) and a mathematical formula (called an algorithm), the DNA testing company can work out the genetic distance (relationship) between two people based on the amount of shared DNA. The chart below shows the relationship and the amount of DNA that relationship will share.

Note: 2nd cousins and closer will ALWAYS share some DNA. If you share no DNA with a known 2nd cousin, then you are not 2nd cousins.

About 10% of 3C will not share DNA
About 50% of 4C will not share DNA

Note: when DNA testing companies do chromosome comparisons, they can't distinguish between the two chromosomes in a pair (maternal and paternal). Instead, they treat them as one combined chromosome. This means that when you match someone on a segment, the DNA testing company can't be sure if the DNA was inherited from your mother (maternal side) or from your father (paternal side) - that’s what you have to figure out and there are tools and techniques that can be used to help you do this.

https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcm

4) The language of Genetic Genealogy (DNA testing)
In order to understand your DNA results, you must understand the language. Here are the terms (and the meaning) most used that you will want to know

Centimorgan (cM)
A measurement of genetic linkage that shows how close or far a relationship is between two people. The higher the cM value, the closer the relationship

SNP (snip)
Distinct segments of DNA on a chromosome that is compared between two people to see if they genetically match. The amount of matching SNPs is measured in cM

Segment
A section of SNPs. A ‘matching segment’ is a section that is identical between two people

Start Location and End Location
Individual markers (called base pairs - the things that SNPs are made of) within a chromosome. A segment of a chromosome can be identified by these location markers

IBS (Identical By State) - SNP values that match between two people due to race or ethnicity (example: Jewish & African)
Note: Matching segments smaller than 7 cM and 700 SNPs have a high likelihood of being IBS (matching by race or ethnicity) and should be ignored

IBD (Identical By Descent) – SNP values that match because they were inherited from a common ancestor

MRCA
Most Recent Common Ancestor - the ancestor from which you and a DNA match received your shared DNA

5) Resources I use frequently
Books (available on Amazon for a cost and most likely at your local library for free):
Genetic Genealogy in Practice by: Blaine T. Bettinger & Debbie Parker Wayne
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by: Blaine T. Bettinger

Websites & Blogs (Free unless noted):
The Genetic Genealogist https://thegeneticgenealogist.com
Kitty Cooper’s Blog http://blog.kittycooper.com
Your Genetic Genealogist http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com
DNA Detectives https://thednadetectives.com
Ancestry DNA https://support.ancestry.com/s/ancestrydna

Family Tree DNA https://www.familytreedna.com/learn
Wheaton Surname Resources https://sites.google.com/site/wheatonsurname
Jenealogie https://maltsoda.wordpress.com
The Legal Genealogist https://www.legalgenealogist.com
International Society of Genetic Genealogy https://isogg.org
Segment-ology https://segmentology.org


Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques https://www.facebook.com/groups/geneticgenealogytipsandtechniques/

DNA Central https://dna-central.com ($)

The Shared cM Project https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4 (this will become one of the most important tools you use)

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id7JJ1NoTNk&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmkKepHoafldMRZ4UNt0Akw
https://www.youtube.com/user/blainetb

DNA Concepts for Genealogy: Y-DNA Testing Part 1 2 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqSN1A44lYU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0Uw3wk_iFHvNVHAirR8JyVaxicnwu3II1lVg6DD0Uz2IA1BmGGrKll0eE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhBYXD7XufI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03hRXVg9i1k

Caroline Rhoda, daughter of John Jacky Morris – full circle back to the Morgan’s

It was my hope by writing about all the children of John Jacky Morris that I would find some scrap of documentation that would allow me to connect with another Morris family and I could finally identify the parents of John Jacky, my third great grandfather. I have come to the last child of John Jacky Morris, Caroline Rhoda, and that hope has been dashed. While I have not discovered much of anything new about John Jacky, I have come full circle back to the Morgan’s. Hang on tight, because this blog is going to be a doozy of a read as I explain how Caroline, and her sister, Susan, just keep leading me in circles around the Morgan’s.

Caroline Rhoda (I’ve also seen her name as Carolina) was the youngest child of John Jacky and Amelia Morris. She was born in 1834, most likely in the Uwharrie area of Montgomery County, and at a time when a lot of families in this area were migrating south and west as new land was opening for settlement. Caroline made the 1840 Census, a female between the ages of 5 thru 9, along with her sisters, Tempy and Diza.

By 1850, Caroline is one of three children remaining at home with her parents. Living between her sister, Susan Morgan, who married Samuel Morgan, and her brothers, Thomas and John Jr, she is listed as age 15.

Caroline married James Kearns (also seen as Keerans) from Randolph County, between 1851 and 1854. I have not, to date, been able to find a marriage license for them. It gets a bit interesting from here, so, hang on while I try to explain my way through this maze of family connections in a way that makes sense.

Since beginning my research on the Morgan’s of Montgomery County, I constantly encounter people who lived in lower Randolph County engaged in some way, by marriage or business, with those who lived in upper Montgomery County, specifically the Eldorado, Ophir and Uwharrie areas.

Some of these families have a connection back to Chatham County, an example is John Stewart, who has ties to Charles Morgan Senior who died in Chatham County, North Carolina in 1787. Charles’s will was probated in Feb 1788. I have been attempting to prove my Morgan’s descend from this Charles Morgan Senior.

It is proven in John’s Revolutionary War file that he left Chatham and migrated to Montgomery County shortly after the Revolutionary War, between 1788 and 1790. John Stewart married Rachel Morgan and is the proven son-in-law of Charles Morgan Senior of Chatham County, who died in 1787. He, John, was a witness to Charles Morgan Senior’s will in Nov 1787 and in Feb 1788, he sold, at the same time Charles’s will was probated, Rachel’s (his wife) interest in the estate rights of her father, Charles Morgan Senior to her brother, then noted as Charles Morgan Junior.

Chatham County Deed Book D, page 416, records an indenture made on the twelfth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, between John Stewart of Chatham County Planter of the one part and Charles Morgan of the same place Planter of the other part, witnesseth that in consideration of five shillings lawful money of North Carolina to the said John Stewart in hand paid by the said Charles Morgan, John Stewart hath sold unto the said Charles Morgan all the Estate rights, title, interest, property claims, and demands of him the said John Stewart in right of his wife Rachel Stewart, or otherwise under or by virtue of the will of his late father in law Charles Morgan the elder deceased.

In John’s Revolutionary War pension file, he lists Charles Morgan Senior as someone who can testify to his claim of service as well as his character. This cannot be the same Charles Morgan Senior, his father in law, as he died in 1787, proven by the probate date of his will in 1788, and John’s Revolutionary War pension file is dated 1833, some forty-five years later. This Charles Morgan Senior can only be his brother in law, noted as Charles Morgan Junior back in Chatham County in Feb 1788, but now known as Charles Morgan Senior, because he has a son named after him.

John Stewart also lists, as someone who is knowing of his Revolutionary War service and can testify to his character, one Edward Brewer Senior, who also is from Chatham County, North Carolina, but migrated to Randolph County after the Revolutionary War. When I looked at Edward’s Revolutionary War pension file, I found that John Stewart had testified that he served three months with Edward Brewer under Captain Duglas.

But that is not all. John’s sisters, Elizabeth and Barbara, provided statements as well. These two sisters married brothers, John and William Russell. Elizabeth made her home in Randolph County, while her sister Barbara, resided in Montgomery County as noted in the document. Elizabeth and Barbara note in their statement, that during the Revolutionary War, they lived with their father, on the public road, in Chatham County and Chatham land records show that the Morgan, Stewart and Brewer families all lived around the Dry Creek area on Haw River.

The conclusion that I am coming to, although documentation that definitively ties this Chatham County and Montgomery County Morgan family together, is currently not showing itself, is that Charles Morgan, who was called Charles Junior in Chatham County in 1788, did move to Montgomery County between the 1800 and 1810 Census years, and there, in Montgomery County, he was noted as Charles Senior as he had a son named Charles, after himself. He most likely moved after 1802 as it was then that he began selling his land in Chatham County.

Deed book J, page 41 records a 1797 deed from Charles Morgan of Chatham County to Alston Jones, of Orange County, for 100 pounds money, on the north side of Haw River, beginning at a stake on the bank of the river in Oliver Brewer’s line, running east with Brewer’s line and crossing the first prong, 119 acres. Witnesses: Thomas Snipes and George Blalock.

Oliver Brewer is the father of Edward Brewer, mentioned above, who moved to Randolph County, and the same man whom John Stewart and his sister’s, Elizabeth and Barbara, testified to his, Edward Brewer, character in his Revolutionary War file.

Great Blog on Brewer’s: https://brouwergenealogy.blogspot.com

Another deed found in Book N, page 17, Charles Morgan of Chatham to Nathaniel Husketh of Chatham, year 1802, 300 acres on Haw River, beginning on the bank of the River, Joseph Morgan’s corner, to Hackney’s spring branch to Dry Creek. Witnesses: Thomas Snipes and Hardy Morgan.

This Joseph Morgan is the brother of Charles Morgan and both are mentioned in the 1787 will of Charles Morgan Senior. I find it very interesting that Hardy Morgan, who cannot be the son of Mark Morgan (1712-1792), as that Hardy Morgan died in 1796/7. It also cannot be the Hardy Morgan who ended up in Montgomery County as he, being born in 1788, would have been too young, at 14 years old, to sign as witness to a deed in 1802. So, who is this Hardy Morgan who witnessed this deed?

A third deed dated 1802, Charles Morgan of Chatham to William Morgan for 25 pounds current money, 50 acres, beginning Zachariah Morgan’s corner, runs north, then east to Charles Morgan’s line then south to Zachariah Morgan’s line. Witnesses: Will Dismukes and Will Prince.

Zachariah Morgan and William Morgan are the brothers of Charles Morgan and are both named, along with Charles, in the will of Charles Morgan Senior who died in 1787. This brings up an interesting discussion on who exactly the Zachariah Morgan is in Montgomery County. He, Zachariah, testified in John Stewart’s Revolutionary War file that he was born in Chatham County and was 12 or 13 years old at the close of the Revolutionary War, this makes him born around 1770. Charles Morgan’s 1787 will does mention a son named Zachariah and I wonder if he is Charles and Rachel Morgan’s brother and brother-in-law to John Stewart. The ages certainly would be close enough for them to be siblings.

I know for sure that, prior to 1809, there was a Zachariah Morgan who lived in Montgomery County on the road leading from Fisher’s ferry to Fayetteville; joining the land of Andrew Dennis, my forth-great grandfather. Andrew Dennis lived on Cedar Creek, (and the same area where John Jacky Morris lived), current day River Road area and had a son named James, who married Mary Morgan. As noted previously, it is not a stretch of the imagination to think that James Dennis married the girl next door. It is very possible that Mary is Zachariah Morgan’s daughter, although she has been attached to my fourth great grandfather, Joseph Morgan, I have shown in a previous blog why I think this is in error.

The Hardy Morgan who ended up in Montgomery County, married Nancy Hearn in 1807, per the Fold3 widow pension file for Nancy. Both Hardy and Charles are found on the 1810 Census for Hattom, Montgomery, North Carolina. Hardy is listed as a young man with a wife and one small child while Charles is listed as a male over the age of 45, making him born before 1765. The 1830 Census shows Charles East of Pee Dee and Yadkin River, Montgomery, North Carolina, listing him between the ages of 70 thru 79, making him born about 1755. This puts Charles Senior, who died in Chatham County in 1787, being born about 1735.

The internet research that I am working from and attempting to prove (or disprove), seems to be missing a generation. There are three Charles Morgan’s, not two. The first Charles, born about 1735 and dying in 1787, Chatham County, the second one born about 1755 and migrating to Montgomery County after 1802, and the third Charles Morgan being born about 1788, who is the father of Spencer Morgan, Willis Morgan and Henry Morgan, as proven in the Crump v. Morgan court papers. This Charles Morgan married a woman named Delilah, who is reputed to be a Stewart, although I have found no evidence to support that claim.

Although I have no proven documentation, the third Charles Morgan is most likely the brother of Hardy Morgan, who married Nancy Hearn, and my fourth great grandfather, Joseph Morgan. Y-DNA testing has confirmed that Willis Morgan descendants and Joseph Morgan descendants are of the same Morgan family. I am almost positive that Charles Morgan, the father of Willis Morgan, and Joseph Morgan, my fourth great grandfather, are brothers, based on Y-DNA and atDNA testing. I am on the hunt for a male descendant of Hardy Morgan to Y-DNA test.

Caroline’s own sister, Susan, married Samuel Morgan, whom is reported to be the son of Spencer Morgan and Elizabeth Tolbert (also seen as Talbert) from Montgomery County. Spencer is most likely the son of Charles Morgan II (b. ~1755 d. aft 1830) and brother to Hardy, Charles, and Joseph. Spencer and his family left Montgomery in the Fall of 1845 for Christian County, Kentucky. Family lore says that Samuel, being in love with Susan, came back to Montgomery County, North Carolina to marry her. I cannot help but wonder if Susan had some involvement in the meeting of Caroline and James Kearns. I am on the hunt also for a male descendant of Spencer Morgan to Y-DNA test.

Also, of interest is the Hall family who migrated from Randolph County to Montgomery County in 1840. On the 2nd day of March 1840, E.F. Morgan, of the county of Montgomery, sold to John Hall, of the county of Randolph, for the sum of $725, and lying on the east bank of Barnes Creek, land that included a Grist Mill and a Saw Mill. Two other tracts of land, known to many as the McCulloch tract and Spencer tract, sold to John Hall at this same time.

James Kearns, who married my third great aunt, Caroline Morris, is the son of Hubbard Kearns and Nancy Hall, who just happens to be the sister of the John Hall who bought the tract of land and the mills from Ebenezer Franklin Morgan in 1840.

I just keep coming full circle back to the Morgan’s. And it gets better…

On 2 Jul 1860, James Kearns, listed as a Carpenter, is found in the home of Bethel Beckerdite, probably just doing some carpentry work for the Beckerdite family on the same day the Census taker came around. Of interest, Bethel Beckerdite is the brother of Amos Beckerdite, whose son, Colin Beckerdite, married Caroline Morgan, the daughter of Hardy Morgan and Nancy Hearn.

On 31 Jul 1860, Caroline and James are found in their own home with three children, William, who will marry Margaret Manor, daughter of Andrew and Malona Dunn Manor. John, who will marry Josie Holshouser, daughter of Adam and Lydia Goodman Holshouser, and Sallie age 3 months, living in Western Division, Randolph County amongst many of James’s relatives.

1870 finds the Kearns family in New Hope, Randolph County, which looks to just be a name change from Western Division as the area was called in 1860. As seemed to be the popular thing, the family is listed by initials only. Notice that James’s occupation has changed from Carpenter to Miller and Sallie, who was 3 months old in 1860 is no longer listed. She has either died, or M.M., who is Martinia Minerva, has taken her place, so, Martinia was either called Sallie or Sallie died young. Martinia will marry Howard Surratt, son of George and Martha Badget Surratt in 1881.

Also listed on this Census is S.C Kearns, age 5. I have yet to discover who this child is and what happened to her. B.P, Burl Pinkney is listed as age 2.

1880 shows Caroline and family still living in New Hope, Randolph County. We see on this Census that William and John are no longer living at home. They have married and William makes his home in Stanly County and John still resides in Randolph County. Martinia and Burl (married Mary Ferrell) are still at home and the S.C. that was listed in 1870 has been changed to Electa (marries Thomas Forest). Mandy (marries Ben Tysinger), Isaac (married Martha Lomax) and Arthur (marries Mary Ellen Beck) have been added to the family during the Census years.

As we (hopefully) all know by now, the 1890 Census has been lost due to fire. In 1900, the Kearns family have moved to Alleghany, Davidson County. The only child living at home is Arthur, his wife, Mary Ellen is also living in the home. Notice that Caroline has listed she has given birth to nine children but only eight are currently living in 1900, so, perhaps, Sallie, listed as three months on the 1860 Census died young. Mary Ellen also lists one child living, but this child is not listed on the Census. I assume it is Floyd Kearns, who was born 1 May 1900, one month prior to the Census being enumerated.

Caroline Rhoda Morris Kearns, my third great Aunt, who leaves a tantalizing historical record for me to continue to search and discover even more connections, died in Sep 1906, at the age of 72. She is buried at Pine Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery in Denton, Davidson County.