Caroline A. Caller

Notes:

(November 1843 Caroline McGrew Petition for Dower}
To the Hon'ble..The County Court of Sumter County: The Petition of Caroline McGrew respectfully ?with that some time in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and ten she was lawfully united in the bonds of wedlock to John McGrew late of said County who departed this life on the sixteenth day of August last in the Republic of Texas leaving no executor or administrator in the state of Alabama: that she has borne to the said McGrew eight children to wit: John McGrew aged about thirty years, William aged about twenty eight, Elizabeth Lenoir the wife of Thomas E. Lenoir, John F. McGrew about twenty yearsof age, Caroline about seventeen, Clarke about thirteen, Mary about ten and Judith about eight years of age.
Claiborne County, Mississippi Probate Records, page 249

Will of Caroline McGrew, Deceased.
In the name of God Amen, I Caroline McGrew of Claiborne County
State of Mississippi, being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and publish this last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made.
In the first place I give my soul to that Almighty and Merciful God who formed it and my body to the earth therein to be decently interred.
In the second place I give and bequeath to my daughter the following slaves viz:-
Hatepha a woman aged about twenty eight years, Barbary aged about twelve years,
Armstead a boy about eleven years, & Henry aged about 2 years; And I do also devise & give to her all my real estate being the plantation on which I now reside requiring her to allow and permit my daughter Caroline Dunagan in the event of her separation from her present husband either by death or otherwise to reside on and make her home on said plantation, so long after separation as she the said Caroline Dunagan shall remain single, and said plantation and Four slaves are all of my estate which Mary is to have. She is to have no share in the residue.
I also require my said daughter Mary out fo the proceeds of the labor of said slaves and rents, or income of said lands bequesthed and devised to her hereby bo purchase a little negro girl not exceeding eight years old, not under five within the next six years after she comes to the possession of said land and slaves under this will and give said little negro to my Grand daughter Lavinia C. McGrew daughter of my son John McGrew.
In the third place I give and bequeath to my said daughter Caroline Dunagan the following negro slaves viz:-Charlottle, a girl aged about Fifteen years and Margaret a girl about five years and George a boy about nine years, and these three slaves are all on my estate that she is to have, she to have no share in the residue.
Of the residue of my estate I make no disposition.
In the Fourth place I appoint James S. Mason my Executor to carry out this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have this 22nd day of July A.D. 1853 signed sealed and
published this my last will and testatment.
In presence of. Caroline McGrew {seal}
The words "Charlotte a girl aged about fifteen years & " interlined before signing sealing & publishing.

Caroline McGrew {seal}
Witness. James Beesby
A.F. Buckly
T.E. Lenoir
The State of Mississippi, Claiborne County.
I, James A. Maxwell, Judge of the Probate Court of said County certify that the foregoing writing of three pages was this day produced in open Court and propounded as the last will & testament of Caroline McGrew Dec'd., and admitted to probate and recorded as sus Dec. 1 1854. Jas. A. Maxwell Prob. J.


In the 1850 census Caroline Caller McGrew is living in Claiborne Co, MS, and her daughter Elizabeth C. McG. Lenoir is just across the line in Copiah Co, MS. In the household with Caroline is her son John, Lavinia (his wife), Elizabeth, and Lavinia F. (Frances), their two daughters.

John (#3) and Lavinia Hume Barron were married in Sumter Co, AL, 29 Jan. 1836.
John F. and Francis Rebecca L. Herlong were married 16 Nov. 1848 in Claiborne Co, MS. He and Frances are listed under Flood J. McGrew and Frances in Claiborne Co, MS, 1850 census.

When Caroline Caller McGrew wrote her will, she left her land and slaves, etc, to her dau Mary, with a mention that if Dau Caroline (mar Dungan) was no longer living with her husband, she received slaves. Also a slave was left to Lavinia F., her (Caroline's) granddaughter. Mary died before her Mother's estate was settled because her death is mentioned when the settlement occurred. It took a long time to settle the estate of Caroline Caller McGrew. Mostly it was slaves, and the CW took care of that. There was some question as to the fairness of the division, since Caroline (McGrew) Dungan had remarried (to Ephraim Woods) there were a lot of court papers generated.

For example, these are quotes from a paper filed by Ephraim Woods in the Claiborne Co, MS, court 9 March, 1860. "petition of Ephraim Woods & wife for a sale & distribution of the estate of Caroline McGrew, deceased". They were not happy with the administrator, James S. Mason.

Heirs: "children of the late William McGrew residing somewhere in Texas." (These were Red Bill's children.)"the children of the late John McGrew residing somewhere in the state of Alabama" & " children of John McGrew, except Lavinia F. McGrew" (These were the children of John McGrew # 3. Lavinia H. Barron McGrew has gone back to Ala with Lavinia F. & Elizabeth. )

The petition also wanted the answer of " David Herlong guardian of Eliza E. McGrew, Martha McGrew & William P. McGrew, the minor heirs of John Flood McGrew, deceased. ( Martha and William P. died before reaching adulthood. .)

The answer from "Thomas E. Lenoir, his wife Elizabeth, Lavinia H. McGrew widow of the late John McGrew, and guardian of Lavinia F. McGrew, one of the children of the said John McGrew, dec'd, James S. Mason, exec. of of said Caroline McGrew, Joseph M. Hankins and his wife Elizabeth C. Hankins, and David Herlong, guardian of Eliza E, Martha J. & Wm P. McGrew, MINOR CHILDREN OF J. FLOOD McGREW."..."Caroline McGrew died leaving as her children surviving her the said Caroline Woods, the said Elizabeth Lenoir, Clark McGrew & J. Flood McGrew," Then it again mentions Wm McGrew whose children live in TX, and the desc. of John McGrew towit: Lavinia F. McGrew & Elizabeth C. Hankins residing in AL. Also that dau Mary (mentioned in will) has died.

Also, from Claiborne Co, MS Probate court, the petition of "Clark McGrew of said county shows that on the 12th day of February last, John F. McGrew a brother of your petitioner departed this life in said county." Sworn to Apr 23 1855.
Another record in Claiborne County, MS, probate court, "the undersigned administrator of the estate of John F. McGrew.....at the time of the death of said decendent a crop was ptiched on certain lands in the possession of said decendent, your petitioner, and the executor of Caroline McGrew - in which crop said decedent John F. McGrew worked two of his own hands and a third hand which was hired by by said decendant..
sworn to by Clarke McGrew, June 28, 1855.

SOURCE of the above:
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=barjeanm&id=I0375

Family/Spouse: John McGrew, Jr.. John (son of John McGrew and Elizabeth Clark) was born before 1788 in Mississippi Territory; died about 1842 in Republic Of Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William "Red Bill" McGrew was born about 1814 in Mississippi Territory; died between 1844 and 1846 in Texas.