c'est la vie

Just when you think you have it figured out...you find a deed that totally confuses and unravels your research. 

c'est la vie! Such is life!

While reading through deeds and Chancery records for Charlotte and Campbell counties, Virginia, I found another John Morris. He seems to have lived in the same place as John Morris, the man that has been attributed to be the son of Samuel Morris, the religious dissenter from Hanover County, Virginia.

The previous John Morris I found, and attributed as the son of Samuel Morris, lived in Campbell County, Virginia, on both sides of Dutchman’s Branch and on both sides of Little Falling River, on 660 acres of land Samuel Morris purchased from John Hardeman in 1768 when the county was still called Bedford. Samuel deeded this same land to his son, John Morris.

This John, the son of Samuel, had family associations with the Armistead family. Samuel Morris names Robert Armistead and William Armistead as his sons-in-law in his will as well as deed records. These same Armistead men have also been associated with John, son of Samuel, in other deeds and records. Robert Armistead witnessed the deed that Samuel wrote giving the land to his son, John.

Without a doubt, Samuel’s son was named John. The question now is, which John?

At about the age of 26, John Morris, the man currently attributed as the son of Samuel, married Lucretia Howell, the stepdaughter of John Goodman, on 10 Feb 1800 in Campbell County, Virginia and the couple went on to have several children.

Susan (b. 1800) m. Robert Cox
Elizabeth (b. 1801) m. Thomas Wingfield (Windfield)
William (b. 1802) m. Mary Collins
John Jr (b. 1804) m. Mary Ann Freeman
Nancy (b. 1805) m. Pinkney Scott
Jesse (b. 1807) m. Evelyn Freeman
Achilles (b. 1808) m. Nancy Kidd
Micajah (b. 1811) m. Lively Scott
Mahala (b. 1813) m. William Finch
James (b. 1815) m. Melvinia Swinney

A male descendant from John and Lucretia’s sons Achilles Goodman "Kelly" Morris (1808-1887) and Micajah G. Morris (1811-1894) have Y DNA tested and match to my Morris line in Montgomery County, North Carolina. Our Morris family are in Project Group M29 at Family Tree DNA. Kits 146588 and 400658.

John Morris was living with his son, John Jr, in 1850. This Census shows John was born about 1774.

 
The other John Morris married Mary Jameson, the widow of Colonel William Elliott, on 24 Feb 1791 in Charlotte County, Virginia. The marriage date alone shows that these must be two different men. John Morris (married Lucretia Howell) was born 1774 (according to the 1850 Census) and would have only been 17 years old in 1791.

Mary was the daughter of William and Ann Read Jameson and granddaughter of Clement and Mary Hill Read Sr. of Bushy Forest, Lunenburg, Virginia. Her mother, Ann Jameson, married first William Jameson and second Richard Elliott.

Mary Jameson married William Elliott in 1788 in Brunswick County, Virginia. William happens to be the son of Richard Elliott by his first marriage to Martha Merritt, thus making William Elliott the stepbrother of his wife, Mary Jameson (you just can’t make this stuff up!) Mary Jameson and William Elliott had one child, Nancy Elliott, born about 1790. Nancy went on to marry William Pritchett.  

After William Elliott died, Mary Jameson married John Morris and in 1790, John Morris was appointed guardian of Nancy Elliott, daughter of Mary Jameson and William Elliott.

Mary Jameson Elliott Morris had the following children with her second husband, John Morris.

Read the Chancery suit here

Margaret (b. 1792) m. Madison Hughes
William J (b. 1794) m. Marcella Harris
John Jr (b. 1796)
Henry (b. 1798)
Elizabeth (b. 1800) m. John Parks Hill

John Morris is mentioned in another Chancery suit that was brought to the Federal Court of Virginia, Buchannon, Hastie & Co surviving partners against Thomas Read one of the executors of the said William Jameson and in 1799, a deed was written between Ann Elliott, Clement R. Jameson, John Morris, and Thomas E. Elliott of the one part and Thomas Read and Edmund Read of the County of Charlotte of the other part.

Read the deed here

Whereas William Jameson by his last will and testament devised his estate to be divided to his widow and children at a certain period therein expressed which period have long arrived and agreeable to the several divisions have taken place agreeable to the will and satisfaction of the parties delivered to the several legatees by the said Thomas Read and Edmund Read the executors
 
Ann Elliott, the widow of the said William Jameson to Clement Jameson in his own right to John Morris in right of his wife Mary, Thomas Elliott in right of his wife Margaret and Clement Jameson as guardian of Edmund Jameson…

At the time of such division and surrender up the estate of the said William Jamison to the said Ann Elliott, Mary the now wife of the said John Morris, Clement Jameson, Margaret the now wife of the said Thomas Elliott and Edmund Jameson no British claims or debts were made known to be due or recovery had against the estate of the said William Jameson so as to justify the executors in holding back the estate of the said William Jameson from the several legatees beyond the time mentioned in the said will

And now at this late date in the year 1799 a recovery has been had in the Federal Court in Virginia in the name of Buchannon, Hastie & Co surviving partners against Thomas Read one of the executors of the said William Jameson on two judgements in that court to the amount of $1666.87 debt and $11.78 costs and $1531.81 debt and $11.78 costs...

And the said Thomas Read and Edmund Read appending themselves in danger of suffering themselves by means thereof and the said Ann Elliott, Clement Jameson, John Morris, and Thomas Elliott honestly desirous of saving harmless the said Thomas Read and Edmund Read against damages and costs....and for the further consideration of $20 to the in hand paid by the said Thomas Read and Edmund Read.... they, Ann Elliott, Clement Jameson, John Morris, and Thomas Elliott have granted bargained sold and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain sell and confirm unto Thomas Read and Edmund Read and to their heirs and assigns forever the said Ann Elliott the negros Kelly, Judy, George, Aggy, Mary, Henry, Davey, Dolly, and Selony, the said Clement Jameson two hundred acres of land whereon he now lives and his divided share of the tract of land called the Horsepen both in in the county of Charlotte with seven slaves Hector, John, Godfrey, jack, Lucy, Betty, Dolly, Leah, Pegg, Phillis and Joan. The said John Morris 669 acres of land lying on Little Falling River in the County of Campbell and 12 slaves Milley, Suckey, Andrew, Charles, Isham, Peggy, Billey, Chaves, Jinny, Silvey, Henry, and Kilmarnock. Thoms Elliott 130 acres of land lying on the water of Wards fork in the county of Charlotte with 12 slaves Will, Billie, Anthony, Cate, Rose, Isbell, Alice, Hannah, Abrahm, Gabriel, Patty, and Betsey....

It is ordered that the proof hereof be certified that the same may be entered of record in the County Court of Campbell the place of residence of the said John Morris one of the subscribing parties.
 

When I read this deed, my first thought was that John Morris, the son attributed to Samuel, was married twice. But then I looked at the dates of both marriages and the birth years for the children and realized that these are two different John Morris’s. Mary Jameson Elliott Morris looks to have died in 1806, John the younger was married to Lucretia at that time, again, showing that these are two different John Morris’s.

The only distinguishing feature that I can find is that John Morris (married Lucretia Howell) looks to be listed as John H. Morris some of the time while the other John Morris is listed as John Morris or J. Morris some of the time. Both men share the same associates and can be found in deed records alongside both the Armistead and Elliott men of the county as witnesses. It is likely that the two John’s are related.

It is possible that John Morris who married Mary Jameson is in some way related to Nathaniel Morris, brother of Joshua Morris who married Sabra Hicks (Hix). We know from other county records and writings that Joshua is the nephew of Samuel Morris, and both are found in historical records as leaders in Hat Creek Church. John the elder would be the right age to be a brother of Nathaniel and Joshua. Mary Jameson, being from Charlotte County, Virginia is the same area as Nathaniel and Joshua.

It is also possible that John Morris who married Mary Jameson is the son of Samuel and John Morris who married Lucretia Howell is his son by a first marriage. So, perhaps John is the grandson of Samuel and not his son. There are no records though that indicate John the elder had a first wife.

There are other possibilities too. John Morris (the elder) may not be related to Samuel at all but perhaps is related to another Morris family who lived in the area. I tend to think this not the case because John Morris (the elder) lived very close to John Morris (the younger).

The last alternative is that John Morris the younger may be the son of Nathaniel. A court document in Charlotte County, Virginia shows that Nathaniel had a son named John. Nathaniel died before 1781 as he is mentioned in the 1781 will of his brother Joshua as already being deceased. Joshua’s last will and testament gave one half his estate to the children of his deceased brother, Nathaniel. However, Joshua’s will does not name John as a child of Nathaniel, but the 1794 court document does. Notice also that the court document lists two John Morris’s. I am not yet sure who either of them are.

Much more research is required here, and I welcome any collaboration from other researchers and especially descendants of both John Morris’s who are researching these lines.

For now, I will leave John Morris the younger as the son of Samuel Morris unless other documents can be found to unravel which John is the son of Samuel.

It would be helpful for a male descendant of John Morris the elder (married Mary Jameson Elliott) to Y DNA test to see if there is a Y DNA match to the Morris family in Project M29 at Family Tree DNA.

Conundrums

A confusing situation has arisen that has led to quite the conundrum for me. While researching the Ragsdale family I found that Susan Ragsdale of Cumberland County married William P. Covington in Anson County in 1852. That does not sound so bad in and of itself but as I started digging into the records, I found myself back in Cumberland (Moore) County surrounded by the Dunn family who had intermarried with my Williams family.

 
William P. Covington was born about 1828, supposedly the son of John and Martha Covington. His paternal grandparents are Simon Covington and Elizabeth Bennett. Family trees show Elizabeth as the sister of William Neville Bennett, the husband of Susannah Dunn who was the daughter of Isaac and Mary Sheffield Dunn from Cumberland (Moore) County, North Carolina. If Elizabeth Bennett Covington is the sister of William Nevill Bennett, then Susannah Dunn would be a great aunt (through the Bennett line) to William P. Covington.

Susannah Dunn and William Nevill Bennett’s daughter, Nancy Bennett, married Benjamin Ingram, son of Sophia Ingram. Keep the Ingram name in mind.

According to the write up at Find A Grave, Mary Sheffield Dunn is Anson counties most notable woman. She was known far and wide for her uses of medicinal herbs and medical treatments, so much so, that folks called her Dr. Mary Dunn. She lived to be 104 years old and was living with her granddaughter, Nancy Bennett and husband, Benjamin Ingram in 1860. There is a marker placed at her grave in the Bennett cemetery in Anson County by the Thomas Wade Chapter of D. A. R.

 

Isaac Dunn was living in Moore County in 1790 with seven people in his household, himself, two males under age 16, and 4 females. If these children belong to Isaac and Mary, then they had more than the one daughter (Susannah).

Notice also, John Morris, the son of Frederick Morris, is shown on the same page as Isaac. John married Nancy Wicker, the daughter of Benjamin Wicker about 1789. I have been researching this Morris family in hopes of finding out if there is a connection to my Morris family. There is one 25-Marker Y DNA Morris match that may lead to something very interesting, perhaps even a breakthrough to my research on John Jacky Morris, my third great grandfather. Unfortunately, I have not been able to reach this match and I fear he may have passed away without ever being able to complete his own research. 

 

Isaac Dunn is thought to be the son of Bartholomew Dunn Sr. of Cumberland County and the brother of Richard Dunn. That scenario certainly makes sense considering that both Isaac and Richard lived on Wet Creek in Cumberland (Moore) County. They may have also had a brother named Hezekiah.

In 1784 a survey was done for Isaac for 100 acres of land in Cumberland County (those parts that later became Moore) joining Richard Dunn’s line on Wet Creek. Hezekiah Dunn and Bartholomew Dunn, either the younger sons of Richard Dunn, or the brothers of Isaac and Richard, were chain carriers.

In 1792, another survey was performed for Isaac for 100 acres of land in Moore County below the White Ponds. Richard Dunn was one of the chain carriers.

For reasons unknown, Isaac and Mary Sheffield Dunn packed their belongings and moved to Anson County between 1792 and 1800. They are found on the 1800, 1810, and 1820 Census for Anson County. Their descendant, Susannah, intermarried with the Bennett family and their granddaughter Nancy intermarried with the Ingram family.

 

In 1801, Isaac Dunn sold to Charles Weatherford a tract of land of 50 acres in Anson County beginning in the fork of White branch at Abraham Belyer’s corner pine. I do not know how Isaac came to own the land.
 

On the 1850 Census for Anson County is found Susan Ragsdale, age 20, (the same woman who married William P. Covington) living with Sophia Ingram, the mother of Benjamin Ingram. Just a few doors away lived Calvin Downer and one-page over lived Nancy Ragsdale with Benjamin Ingram, the son of Sophia Ingram.

How did these Ragsdale girls come to live with this Ingram family? Are they related to the Dunn and Sheffield families from Moore County? Certainly, these Ragsdale girls are related to one another. Possibly sisters.

A better question is are these girls the daughters of Thomas and Elizabeth Ragsdale from the Barnes Creek area of Montgomery County, North Carolina? In my previous blog, I made note that 1836 was the last record I could find on Thomas Ragsdale. He probably died before the 1840 Census as Elizabeth Ragsdale is found in the same place Thomas once lived, East Pee Dee River in Montgomery County, North Carolina. In her home are two females between the ages 10 - 15, born between 1825 and 1830. This certainly meets the age requirement for both Susan and Nancy who are found living with the Ingram family of Anson County in 1850.

So, at some point between the 1840 and 1850 Census, Elizabeth moves her daughters from the Barnes Creek area of Montgomery County to Anson County. Why? If Thomas had died, then his minor children would require a guardian. Are the Ingram family acting as guardians to Susan and Nancy? Susannah Dunn Bennett, the daughter of Isaac and Mary Sheffield Dunn, died in 1847.

Is it possible that Thomas and/or Elizabeth Ragsdale are somehow related to Susannah Dunn and the girls were living with her, a relative, during their minor years? When Susannah died, the girls went to live with the Nancy Bennett Ingram who had married Benjamin Ingram?

Sophia Ingram was the wife of Lemuel Ingram of Anson County, North Carolina. She was born around 1785. Most researchers have her listed as the daughter of John Billingsley and Charity Ford. Of interest to my research, Sophia bought land in 1802 from William Morris. Nathan Morris was a witness to that deed. I have not researched William or Nathan yet so do not know who they are or if there is a connection back to Cumberland/Moore County.

It is widely accepted that Nancy Ragsdale (living with Benjamin Ingram in 1850) was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ragsdale and the sister of Timothy Ragsdale, the younger, of Montgomery County, North Carolina whom I wrote about in my previous blog, A Tale of two Timothy’s.

This belief (I think) originated from Elzivan Sanders of Biscoe, North Carolina who was the informant on the death certificate of Mary Jane Ragsdale Brown, daughter of Timothy and Nancy Ragsdale. How Elzivan knew Mary Jane Ragsdale Brown is still a question that needs to be fully answered but I believe it was probably through his wife Dora Alice Sheffield. It might have been common knowledge that Mary Jane Ragsdale Brown had family in Anson County who had the Downer surname.  It seems obvious that Elzivan had no intimate knowledge of Nancy Ragsdale Downer and was only reporting what he had overheard from the family, otherwise he would have known that Nancy Downer was the aunt of Mary Jane and not her mother.

Researchers have connected the dots to Anson County and found Nancy Ragsdale, who was living with the Ingram family in 1850, married to James Calvin Downer, who was a near neighbor to the Ingram’s.

From other family death certificates, we know that Mary Jane’s mother was Nancy Raggins. A. M. Ragsdale listed on his mother Susan’s death certificate, Nancy Raggins as mother’s maiden name. Susan and Mary Jane are sisters.

Elzivan Sanders is the son of Rufus Sanders and Spicey Morgan. His paternal grandmother is Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Noah Williams and Mary Ann Davis. He reaches back several generations to George Williams who died in 1797 in Moore County, North Carolina.

Elzivan married Dora Alice Sheffield in 1921, Montgomery County. Dora is the daughter of Enoch Spinks Sheffield and Mary Alice Sheffield. Dora descends from the same Dunn/Sheffield family who left (Cumberland) Moore County and moved to Anson County and intermarried with the Ingram and Bennett families.

Let me stop here with a comment on the name “Spinks.” Found in the 1863 estate file of Timothy Ragsdale, the younger, is found the below paper listing Susan Ann Ragsdale as the widow of Timothy and heirs at law as Peter C. Shaw, Tim Ragsdale, and Peter Spinks Jordan.

The paper indicates that Nancy’s name may be Susan Ann or a combination of all these names. No serious researcher is immune to the fact that their ancestors were sometimes called by first, middle, or a nickname, so Nancy Ragsdale having two or three other names is not a big surprise. Could Timothy have had other children who were his heirs at law? Or are these possibly grandchildren from a deceased child?

If anyone has information they can share about these names and how these people are related to Timothy Ragsdale, please contact me via the blog or leave a comment below.

Back to Anson County.

Bringing this family circle together we find that the famous Mary Ann Sheffield Dunn (wife of Isaac Dunn), age 100, and the grandmother of Benjamin Ingram's wife, Nancy Bennett, is found in 1860 living with Benjamin Ingram, the same man Nancy Ragsdale Downer was living with ten years prior in 1850.

In 1860, Nancy Ragsdale Downer is living in the home of Nancy Downer, age 60, in Anson County, North Carolina. This Nancy is probably her mother-in-law, the mother of her husband, James Calvin Downer. Elizabeth Ragsdale, the mother of Nancy Ragsdale Downer, and widow of Thomas Ragsdale, from Montgomery County, is living in the same home.

Most researchers have Elizabeth Ragsdale, wife of Thomas Ragsdale, listed with maiden name Baldin/Baldwin and cite a marriage license from Rockingham County, North Carolina as proof of the marriage. However, that couple married 24 Jul 1833 according to their marriage record and that would mean all of Thomas and Elizabeth’s children were illegitimate. I do not believe this is the same couple.

Further research is needed to determine why Susan Ragsdale Covington and Nancy Ragsdale Downer are living with the Ingram family in 1850. Why are they in Anson County?

Is there a family connection between the Ragsdale family of Montgomery County, North Carolina and the Ingram, Bennett, Downer, Covington families of Anson County and the Dunn, Sheffield families of Moore County, North Carolina?

Elzivan Sanders certainly thought so.

A tale of two Timothy’s

While researching and writing the previous blog post, ‘Ties that bind or just a coincidence?’ I realized that there were two Timothy Ragsdale’s in early Montgomery County, North Carolina. This seemed to be common knowledge among serious researchers of the Ragsdale line while others have combined the Timothy’s into one. Records show, however, that there were two very different and distinct Timothy Ragsdale's.

The Ragsdale's are yet another mysterious family whose roots are only speculatively known, and the families, who may be the same or different (that remains to be seen), are, like so many other families who resided in the Uwharries, mixed up. The Ragsdale’s deserve a dedicated post of their own to ensure that other researchers know there are two distinct and separate Timothy Ragsdale’s who lived in Montgomery and Stanly counties; one born about 1798, whom I call Timothy, the elder, and another born about 1818, whom I call Timothy, the younger.

Before I get into Timothy, the elder and Timothy, the younger, let me note that there were other Ragsdale families who lived in the neighboring counties of Randolph, Moore, Richmond, Orange, Chatham, and even Cumberland, and as far away as Caswell. The Randolph County Ragsdale family may be the same family as the Caswell County, North Carolina family.

In fact, from 1767 – 1840, I have found many Ragsdale families in the following counties.

Moore County, North Carolina

Benjamin (from Orange/Chatham, NC, moved to Williamson County, TN per Rev. War pension records), John, Daniel, Abner, Richard (may be same man living in Chatham County). Lived on Big Pocket Creek & Raccoon Branch.

Richmond County, North Carolina

Edmond, Edwin, William, Thomas, Elisabeth, Fanny. Lived on S. side Big Buffalo Creek.

Montgomery County, North Carolina

Thomas I, Timothy (the younger), Nancy, Jesse, Elizabeth, John; lived on Barnes Creek. Thomas II, lived near Clarks Creek.

Stanly County, North Carolina

Timothy (the elder), family moved to Greene County, TN, lived on Long Creek, Stanly County. Nancy, Mary (found on 1830 Census, and both living with David Kendell in 1850).

Randolph County, North Carolina

William (moved from Caswell, NC to Randolph, NC, & Cheraw, SC), Joel; lived on both sides of the Uwharrie River.

Chatham County, North Carolina

Richard lived on the east side of Georges Creek (may be the same man found in Moore County).

Cumberland County, North Carolina

Hannah, John; shown on early (1767) Census records.

Currently, I do not know if these Ragsdale families are related. Direct male descendants of all the lines should Y DNA test to determine relatedness.

William Ragsdale of Caswell County, North Carolina settled in Randolph County, North Carolina and purchased land there from John Stanfield in 1794. William Ragsdale sold that land to Joel Ragsdale in 1795 and moved to Cheraw District, South Carolina by 1805 as shown in a deed stating that he was a resident of Cheraw, South Carolina when he sold his land in Randolph County, North Carolina.

 

 

My previous blog generated a comment with some information about the Ragsdale family that caught my attention and being driven by curiosity, prompted me to start digging into the records.

There were at least two Thomas Ragsdale’s in Caswell County. One looks to have been born prior to 1756 or earlier. This Thomas Ragsdale is noted on early state Census records in Caswell in 1777 and is listed on a petition dated 26 Oct 1779, to the “house of Burgises” from inhabitants of Caswell Co. asking that an equal division be made of the county since it is forty miles in length and twenty wide. This makes Thomas Ragsdale of Caswell County born prior to 1756, assuming he would have to meet the minimum age requirement of 21 years to participate in signing a petition.

Deeds in Caswell County indicate Thomas Ragsdale sold land on Bold Branch in 1785 to Lord Lord of Caswell County.

Caswell County Census records show Thomas Ragsdale on the 1777 North Carolina, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 for Nash District, Caswell, North Carolina.

The 1840 Census shows Thomas Ragsdale age 30 thru 39, making this man born about 1805 and distinctly different from the older Thomas Ragsdale.

On the 14th of Feb 1783, Thomas Ragsdale of North Carolina sold to John Bruce of Mecklenburg, Virginia a tract of land where John Bruce now lives containing 100 acres and bounded by John Ragsdale, Benjamin Ragsdale, Hutchens Burton, Sampson Lamkin, Thomas Berry, and John Berry. The deed was witnessed by John, William, and Drury Ragsdale.

To obtain the release of dower for the land that Thomas Ragsdale sold to John Bruce, the court ordered Richard Holeman and John Womack, of Caswell County, North Carolina, to visit Mary Ragsdale, the wife of Thomas Ragsdale, and obtain the release of dower, which they did.

So, from this record, we know Thomas had a wife named Mary.

This is clearly the older Thomas Ragsdale in Caswell, North Carolina and shows that he probably migrated from Mecklenburg, Virginia to Caswell, North Carolina.

Timothy Ragsdale, the elder

Timothy Ragsdale, the elder was living on the west side of the Pee Dee River as early as 1823 when he performed chain carrier duties for a survey for Thomas Rice for a tract of land on the Southwest side of the Yadkin River joining George Stiles corner and Thomas Rice’s line and Callaway’s line. Elisha Laton was also a chain carrier.

Timothy is shown on the 1830, 1840, and 1850 Census records. He may be related to Nancy Ragsdale who was also living in the area in 1830 and 1850. Nancy looks to have been born about 1780 in Virginia. In 1850, she, and Mary Ragsdale, age 50, are shown living with the family of David and Charlotte Kendall.

Now, to be fair, the 1830 Census does not specifically state that the area was the west side of the Pee Dee River but based on those named on that Census record, when compared to land and other records, pinpoints the area, without doubt, as the west side of the river.

The 1850 Census is clear that the area is Albemarle, Stanly County.

Timothy Ragsdale, the elder, was born between 1791 and 1800 making him about 35 years old in 1830. His wife was born between 1801 and 1810, making her about 25 years old. The couple have a young family, two boys under the age of 5, one daughter under five years old, and one daughter aged 5-9 years.

A total of four children. My guess is that Timothy has been married less than seven years.

Home in 1830 (City, County, State) Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 - 2 (bef. 1825)
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 - 1 (bet. 1791-1800)
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 - 1 (bef. 1825)
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 - 1 (bet. 1821-1825)
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 - 1 (bet. 1801-1810)

Timothy Ragsdale, the elder, according to the 1840 Census, was still living in Montgomery County, North Carolina on the west side of the Pee Dee River. The 1840 Census makes the distinction of which side of the river the Census taker is on. Timothy, the elder, gives his age to match the 1830 Census, born between 1791 and 1800. There is no guess work here. His family has grown to nine children.

Home in 1840 (City, County, State) West Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 - 2 (bef. 1835)
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 - 2 (bet. 1831-1835)
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49 - 1 (bet. 1791-1800)
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 - 1 (bef. 1835)
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 - 4 (bet. 1831-1835)
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 - 1 (bet. 1801-1810)

The 1850 Census for Stanly [formerly Montgomery] County, North Carolina finds Timothy Ragsdale, the elder, and family, all named. Timothy, born about 1798 in North Carolina and wife, Martha, born about 1803, also born in North Carolina. There are 8 children in the home. It looks like the eldest has moved out. Shown on this Census was Davidson, born 1829, John, born 1831, Nancy, born 1833, Eunice, born 1835, Martha, born 1837, Peter, born 1840, Sarah, born 1843, and Priscilla, born 1844.

Timothy, the elder, was not found in 1860; although a lot of families were missed on this Census, I believe it possible he died about this same time. It looks like his children and wife moved to Greene County, Tennessee with Martha living with son, Peter, in 1870, Greene County, Tennessee. The surname has been written Ragsdill. Both Martha and Peter are recorded as being born in North Carolina.

An Agriculture schedule dated 18 Jun 1880 for Greene, Tennessee finds what looks to be brothers, Davidson, and John, along with William, who is probably a child of Timothy and Martha Ragsdale.

Marriage records for Geene County, Tennessee indicate that Peter Ragsdale married Phoebe Isabella Crozier on 1 Sep 1861. The couple moved to Cork, Warren, Illinois and are found there in 1880. In 1900, they were living in Milton, Umatilla, Oregon. Phoebe died about 1905 and Peter remarried to Dillie Williams Cox. The couple, both listed on their marriage license as living in Freewater, Oregon, married in Walla Walla, Washington on 29 Sep 1909. Peter is listed as a Blacksmith, the same occupation he is listed as in the 1880 and 1900 Census records.  

It is Peter’s marriage record that provides his mother’s maiden name, Martha Stone, as well as a middle initial for his father, Timothy T. Ragsdale. Peter is listed as born in North Carolina. Circling back to the Census records for his father, Timothy, finds that he lived very close to Samuel S. Stone in 1830, Montgomery [now Stanly] County, North Carolina. There may be some relation between Samuel and Martha.

Timothy Ragsdale, the younger

Timothy Ragsdale, the younger, is found on the east side of the Pee Dee River. I am not able to find him in the 1840 Census, even though it looks like he was married with children by that time. The 1850 Census shows Timothy was born about 1818 and his wife, Nancy was born about 1812, both in North Carolina.

1850 Montgomery, North Carolina

Timothy Ragsdale 32 (1818)
Nancy Ragsdale 38 (1812)
Daniel Ragsdale 13 (1837)
Jesse Ragsdale 9 (1841)
Mary J Ragsdale 7 (1843)
Susan A Ragsdale 5 (1845)
James Ragsdale 3 (1847)
Deborah Ragsdale 1 (1849)

In 1855, Timothy was granted 100 acres of land on the waters of Barnes Creek adjoining his own land and beginning at William Hurley’s corner post oak and runs with his line to John Hudson’s corner, now Ragsdale’s, to Ragsdale’s Steed line. The land also joined Leah Steed and Green Hardister’s land. Chain carriers were James and Ezekiel Hardister.

In 1860, Timothy, the younger, and family are living in Beans, current day Ophir (I believe), still on Barnes Creek. His family has increased by three children. Interestingly, a son, Wyatt, was born in 1851. The name Wyatt was also found in the family of Etheldred Morris across the river and is found in later generations of the Samuel Morris family from Campbell County, Virginia. Perhaps it is just a coincidence, but naming patterns sometimes were used throughout families, so I am always on the lookout for them.

1860 Beans, Montgomery, North Carolina

Timothy Ragsdale 46 (1814)
Nancy Ragsdale 47 (1813)
Daniel Ragsdale 22 (1838)
Jesse Ragsdale 19 (1841)
Mary J Ragsdale 17 (1843)
Susan Ragsdale 15 (1845)
James Ragsdale 13 (1847)
Debora Ragsdale 11 (1849)
Wyatt Ragsdale 9 (1851)
William Ragsdale 6 (1854)
John Ragsdale 4 (1856)

Timothy, the younger, on 27 May 1861, enlisted in the Confederate Army and officially joined the Civil War. A ‘Descriptive List and Account of Pay and Clothing…’ shows that Timothy was age 54, eye color, gray, hair, gray, fair complexion, 6 feet tall. He was born in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

Timothy, the younger, died in hospital, of disease on 29 Jun 1862, a year after enlisting, in Richmond, Virginia. P. C. Saunders filed for settlement on 26 Jan 1863 and was paid $128.80, the money found to be due Timothy. P. C. Saunders executed a Power of Attorney to Lt. A. F. Saunders who collected the personal effects of Timothy Ragsdale, and an additional $24.60 on 9 Jul 1863.

In Oct 1862, Nancy Ragsdale, widow of Timothy, the younger, filed her petition for dower in the estate of her husband, which was granted. By Jan 1863, James Davis, Eli Davis, and Thomas Bright, were appointed to lay off and allot Nancy, and her 7 children, a year’s support out of the estate of Timothy Ragsdale, deceased. In Oct 1862, items belonging to the estate of Timothy, the younger, were sold. Nancy, widow, purchased almost everything.

Timothy and Nancy had at least nine children. Daniel, the oldest, died in the Civil War a year after his father.

Daniel, born about 1837 married Margaret Hardister, daughter of Wiley and Margaret Saunders Hardister.

Jesse C. born about 1840, married Jeluna Russell, daughter of Newton and Rutha Hearne Russell, and second, Martha Logan, daughter of John and Elizabeth Steward Logan

Mary Jane, born about 1843, married William Brown, son of John and Sarah Tucker Brown of Moore County, North Carolina

Susan Adeline, born about 1844

James, born about 1847, married Mary Strider, daughter of Jacob and Priscilla Hurley Strider

Deborah, born about 1849, married Levi Madison Dennis, son of Littleton Jackson and Sarah Tolbert Dennis

Wyatt, born about 1851, married Christian Strickland, daughter of John and Nancy Jackson Strickland

William, born about 1851, married Margaret Dennis, daughter of Littleton Jackson and Sarah Tolbert Dennis

John Harris, born about 1856, married Lunda Morris, daughter of Thomas and Mary Williams Morris, second, married Mary Jane Parker, daughter of Joel and Margaret Jenkins Parker, third, married Rosanna Catledge

What about Thomas Ragsdale?

It seems to be overwhelmingly believed that Thomas Ragsdale who lived in Caswell County, North Carolina is the same Thomas Ragsdale who lived in Richmond and Montgomery counties and is the father of Timothy, the younger, as well as Jesse P. Ragsdale who lived very near both Thomas and Timothy on Barnes Creek. I have seen some family trees that show Thomas as the son of Thomas of Caswell, North Carolina. Doing this accounts for the age gap.

Currently, I have found no real proof that these men are one in the same. While there were two Thomas Ragsdale’s in Caswell County, one born before 1755 and the other born around 1800, he of course being too young and the other being too old to account for parentage of Timothy or Jesse Ragsdale of Montgomery County.

There is another discrepancy here as the Thomas Ragsdale in Caswell had a wife named Mary (some people have merged her name to be Mary Elizabeth to account for the name discrepancy between the two Thomas’s wives) and was born before 1756 and the Thomas Ragsdale in Montgomery County who had a wife named Elizabeth and was born much later, about or after 1771.

I am not sure who the wife of Thomas Ragsdale of Richmond County was. Thomas of Richmond County was shown as over 45 years old in 1800 (with no wife) but only 26 thru 44 years old in 1810 (with a young wife and child). So, these are probably two different Thomas Ragsdale’s in Richmond County. Maybe a father, son.

The Richmond County 1830 Census record shows Elizabeth Ragsdale, age 40 thru 49 (born about 1785) living in the same neighborhood that Thomas, William, and Edmund Ragsdale were shown living in on earlier Census records. The neighbors are the same – Stringfellow and Roper. Who she is, is currently a mystery.

Thomas Ragsdale is shown on the 1800 Census for Fayetteville, Richmond, North Carolina, age 45 and over, making him born before 1755.

The 1810 Richmond, North Carolina Census shows Thomas Ragsdale age 26 thru 44, making him born as early as 1766 but as late as 1784. Considering the female in his home age 16 thru 25 and there is one child under the age of 10, this looks to be a young family.  

Thomas Ragsdale found on Census records East of Pee Dee and Yadkin River, Montgomery, North Carolina in 1830, listed as age 50 thru 59, making him born about 1780, and the 1840 Census showing Thomas Ragsdale, age 70 thru 79, making him born about 1765.

Below is a chart for easier comparisons.

In 1836, Thomas Ragsdale of Montgomery County sold to Leonard Hutson for $50, 160 acres of land joining Luther and Steed's lines on Barnes Creek. Samson Sanders was witness.

Read more about Leonard here

In 1839, Leonard Hutson sold the same land to Jesse Ragsdale.

There are a plethora of other land records showing that Thomas, Timothy, and Jesse Ragsdale all lived on Barnes Creek in Montgomery County, North Carolina near Moses and Nathaniel Steed, brothers from Brunswick, Virginia. Nathaniel Steed acted as an Assignee of William Ragsdale from Caswell County for land in Randolph County.

It is very probable that the Montgomery County Ragsdale’s are related to the Caswell County Ragsdale’s. Timothy, the younger, is probably the brother of Jesse P. Ragsdale who is most certainly the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ragsdale according to marriage records found in Montgomery County.

It is interesting to note that Paton Ragsdale was a chain carrier for a survey done for Thomas Ragsdale in 1826. Paton may be Jesse P. Ragsdale’s middle name.

Based on marriage records for Montgomery County, Jesse P. Ragsdale, at the age of 67, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ragsdale, in 1878, married Jane Davis, age 29, daughter of Samuel and Mary ‘Polly’ Kelly Davis. P. C. Saunders, the same man who Administered the estate of Timothy, officiated the marriage. P. H. (Parsons Harris) Morris, my first cousin three times removed attended the wedding and signed as a witness.

Of interest, mother, Elizabeth looks to living in (perhaps) Anson County. Most researchers show her as the same Elizabeth Ragsdale in Anson County living with Nancy Downer. The 1860 and 1870 Census records indicate that she was born about 1794 in North Carolina. That would make her much younger than the Mary Ragsdale, wife of Thomas, in Caswell, North Carolina.

Of course, the main question in my mind is how the Ragsdale family knew my Morris family. There seemed to be a close connection between the two families, with P. H. Morris attending the wedding ceremony between Jesse and Jane and his first cousin, Lunda Morris, marrying Jesse’s nephew, John Harris Ragsdale.

Later generations of my Morris family married into this same Davis family.

Etta Geneva Morris, daughter of William and Martha Hall Morris, married William Davis, the nephew of Mary Jane Davis Ragsdale, wife of Jesse Ragsdale.

Elizabeth Morris, the aunt of Etta Geneva Morris and daughter of Thomas and Mary 'Polly' Williams Morris, married Thomas Davis, another nephew of Mary Jane Davis Ragsdale.

The 1840 Montgomery County Census shows Elizabeth Ragsdale, age 40 thru 49 (born between 1791-1800) living East of the Pee Dee River among the Sanders/Saunders, Hardister, and Steed families. This is the right place for her as it is the same area where Thomas, Timothy, and Jesse lived.

Does this Census indicate that Thomas died before 1840? I believe it does.

The 1840 East Pee Dee Montgomery County Census also shows Thomas Ragsdale, age 70 thru 79, (born about 1765) and living in the same neighborhood as Far Martin, Edmond Deberry, and John Andrews. This area is on the lower end of the county, near Clarks Creek and south of where Thomas, Timothy, and Jesse lived on Barnes Creek, the upper end, near the Randolph County line.

This looks to be a different Thomas Ragsdale. Who is he?

More research required

Because Orange County was subdivided to create Chatham, Guilford, and Caswell Counties, and two of those were further divided to create Randolph, Rockingham, and Person Counties, it will be necessary to look at early deeds from all six counties and Orange County if one hopes to have a better understanding of the Ragsdale family. 

It is probable that the families in all these counties are somehow related, going back to Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and including the Ragsdale family from Moore County; Benjamin Ragsdale claimed his birth was in Orange/Chatham, North Carolina and that he lived in Moore County before moving to Williamson County, Tennessee, per his Revolutionary War pension record.