James Chalmas Birdwell

Notes:

His draft registration card for World War I showed him as James Chalmis Birdwell of Milam, Texas. He listed his date of birth as Jan 15, 1899, and his employer as R. D. Birdwell of Milam, his father. He was shown as being medium height, slender build, and that he had the significant previous injury of a "bullet in right hip."

Family/Spouse: Emma Gene Pratt. Emma (daughter of Hampton Lee Pratt and Mary E. Cooper) was born on 11 Sep 1906 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 20 Sep 1978 in San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His World War I draft registration card showed him as Rush David Birdwell. He stated that he was born on December 19, 1877 in Milam. He was listed as a Farming, and showed his nearest relatives as "children" in Milam. He was shows as tall, medium build, with blue eyes and dark hair. The card was completed on September 12, 1918, some 10 days after his wife had died.

Name: Rush D. Birdwell
Death Date: 14 May 1966
Death Place: Weslaco, Hidalgo, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 87 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 19 Dec 1878
Birthplace: Sabine County, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Jim Birdwell
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Mary Cogburn
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Farmer/Agriculture
Place of Residence: Precinct #1, Hidalgo, Texas
Cemetery: Highland Memorial Park
Burial Place: Weslaco, Texas
Burial Date: 16 May 1966
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2117978
Digital Film Number: 4178279
Image Number: 2768
Reference Number: cn 32622
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Research):
Census Information:

1900 Federal Census
Texas, Sabine, Precinct 6
Enumerated 11 Jun 1900 By Fred Berryman Jr
SD 8, ED 70, Sheet 74B
122-122
Birdwell, Ru?? H Dec 1877 23 M3 Tx Miss Ga
Birdwell, Alice Wife Jun 1881 19 M3 1/1 Tx Tx Tx
Birdwell, Chalmers Son Jan 1898 2 S Tx Tx Tx

Not able to locate on the 1910 through 1930 census enumerations

Rush married Alice A. Fullen on 7 Mar 1898 in Sabine County, Texas. Alice (daughter of John W. Fullen and Jane Allen) was born on 20 May 1881 in Texas; died on 2 Sep 1918 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to the following marriage information, Birdwell, R.D. to A.A. Fullen 7 Mar 1898 by W.T. Harvil, M.G. The 1900 Census shows A.A. Fullen to be named Alice A., and that she was born in approximately 1881. I am assuming she is a daughter of John and Jane Fullen, and not of William and Elizabeth Fullen, for the following reasons:

1) There appear to have been only two Fullen Household's in Sabine County in 1881; that of William Fullen and that of John Fullen. It is assumed one of these two men was her father.

2) Alice would have been too young to be listed with either Fullen family in 1880. The census for 1890, when she was age 9, was destroyed. She was married in 1898, so is listed with her husband in 1900. This is why she will not be found listed with either family on census records.

3) According to the Sabine County 1910 Federal Census, John and Jane Fullen had been married for 42 years. They had had 9 children, 7 of whom were still living. By examining other census information, eight of these nine total children can be accounted for. I believe Alice to be the ninth. William and Margaret had also been married for a total of 42 years. They had 6 children, 5 of whom were still living. By examining other census records, all six can be accounted for.

4) On the 1890 Scholastic Census, Lena, 13, Ginnie 11, and Washington 8 were recorded as attending No. 57, Bethany. Surely if Alice were one of their siblings, she would have been in attendance as well. She and Washington were both born circa 1881. By way of contrast, none of the children of John and Jane Fullen were recorded on the 1890 Scholastic Census. Presumably they were needed at home for farmwork.

Notes:

Married:
Birdwell, R.D. to A.A. Fullen 7 Mar 1898 by W.T. Harvil, M.G.

Notes:

David Pike writes that James Birdwell arrived in Texas in 1854, and that he enlisted in Company "H", 13th Texas Regiment on the 18 Feb, 1862. Served in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. Was captured by Union Forces at Pleasant Hill, LA 9 Apr 1864, released in a prisoner exchange at Blair's Landing on the Red River, 20 Apr 1864. Discharged ca 5 May of 1865 at Hempstead, TX.

Henry, second child of J. A. and Mary's, was born 11 Nov 1864. This would indicate that James was home on leave in march of that year, just prior to the Battle of Pleasant Hill.

25 Jan 1906-made application (1st) for CSA pension. It was disapproved.
11 Aug 1909- made second application for pension. It was also disapproved.
He may have still owned land in Newton County. This may have been reason for these disapprovals. On his application he listed real and personal property as:
100 acres - $200.00
1 Pony - 45.00
2 Cows - 20.00
3 Shoats - 3.00
Wife's estate listed as her interest of the 100 acres.

David Pike also notes that "Family Search has James born in (Newton) Alabama. I do not believe this is correct. Also, some accounts have him and his bro. John as children of John and Mary Allen Birdwell. I believe this is also incorrect. "






(Research):

Census Information:

1870 Census
Texas, Newton County, P. O. Newton
Enumerated 4 Aug 1870
Page 20
152-154
Birdwell, James 35 M W Farmer $600 $250 Alabama
Birdwell, Mary A. 27 F W Keeping House Ark
Birdwell, Emelia I [Ophelia]11 F W Tx
Birdwell, Henry W. 6 M W Tx
Birdwell, Addie E 4 F W Tx
Birdwell, Henry G 1 M W Tx


1880 Sabine County Census:
124-125
Birdwell, James A. w m 44 farmer Ala Ala Ala
Birdwell, Mary A. w f 37 wife Ala SC Ga
Birdwell, Henry W. w m 15 son TX
Birdwell, Addie E w f 13 dau TX
Birdwell, Charley L. w m 9 son TX
Birdwell, Florence E w f 7 dau TX
Birdwell, Lemeul J w m 5 son TX
Birdwell, David R w m 2 son TX


1900 Census
Sabine County, Texas
Birdwell, James Head M W 64 M AL AL AL Farmer
Birdwell, Mary A Wife F W 57 N AL AL AL
Birdwell, Norman Son M W 18 S TX AL AL
Birdwell, Elbert Son M W 15 S TX AL AL
Birdwell, Willie Minnie Dau F W 12 S TX AL AL
Cogburn, Martha M-in-Law F W 78 Wd GA GA GA

James married Mary Alice Cogburn about 1859 in Newton County, Texas. Mary was born on 10 Oct 1842 in Alabama; died on 3 Nov 1909 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Was she also called Nancy? According to an email from Dolores Burton, she was named Nancy Cogburn. However, on the 1880 and on the 1900 Sabine County Census, the wife of James Birdwell is listed as Mary. In fact, in the 1900 census, she is shown as Mary A. (Cogburn).

David Pike, a Cogburn researcher, also shows her as Mary Alice. He indicates that she was probably born in Georgia, though census records report Alabama, and on one occasion Arkansas.

Notes:

Most official documents and census records simply show him as either John Fullen or John W. Fullen. His middle name is not known with certainty.

Frances Simmons [mailto:fsimmons@ruralcomm.com], in an email dated June 10, 2000, wrote that she discovered that John's middle name was Willoughby "last year at the Fullen family reunion by looking at notes and articles they had kept. I think one article called it the James Willoughby Fullen reunion. Before that I only had James W. Fullen...." However, Danice Hurt, a direct descendant through son William Franklin Fullen, emailed in January, 2012 that "my mother (Bobbie Sue Fullen Lunsford) has always told me that his name was John Whitney Fullen. He lived with Frank & Nannie Fullen when my mother was a child. Unfortunately, so far I have been unable to find any documentation as to the middle name, your website is the first time I had heard of any other name." A third possibility is that his middle name was Whitaker, as this is the middle name of his eldest son.

John and his brother, William were orphaned sometime before 1860. They lived with their stepfather, Solomon Causey, and his new wife until the Civil War.

John was just 16 when he enlisted in the Confederate States Army in February, 1862, alongside his brother William. John served in Company F, 11th Texas Regiment, from February, 1862 through February, 1864. The 11th Texas Infantry Regiment was placed under the command of Colonel Oran M. Roberts (a later governor of Texas). The 11th was marched to Arkansas where it combined into Randal's Brigade, McCulloch's Division in September 1862. The regiment is later moved to Louisiana. They combined forces with Green's 15th and 18th Texas Infantry on November 1, 1863. The combined force went south from Opelousas, Louisiana toward Grand Coteau in what Roberts described as a "rapid and fatiguing march." The 11th was ordered forward towards the enemy by the commander of the Confederate District of Western Louisiana, Major General Richard Taylor. On November 3, 1863, they were deployed in the Battle of Bayou Bourbeau. Several companies were sent out as skirmishers. The remainder of the 11th, including Company F, were deployed on the left wing of the lines, roughly two miles south of Opelusas. The infantry force retired from the field after approximately 3 hours of combat. The 11th reported 4 killed, 15 wounded, and 32 missing. Union casualties in the whole engagement numbered approximately 716 men. On November 4, 1863, the 11th joined the rest of Walker's Division in holding the country from Simsport to Opelousa against future assaults by Union forces.

Source: http://www.cba.uh.edu/~parks/tex/texreb.htm

I was unable to locate John W. Fullen in Sabine County, or anywhere else, at the time of the 1870 census. It was possible he was simply missed by the enumerator due to the turmoil of the reconstruction.

John W. Fullen made an application for a Pre-emption grant of land in Sabine County on August 12, 1876. In this application he, and two witnesses (G. Guthrie and A.C. Woolam), swore that he was a bona fide settler on vacant public land, and the head of a family. Pre-emption grants were made after statehood, and from 1866 to 1898 up to 160 acres could be claimed. Homesteaders were required to live on the land for three years and make improvements (such as building a barn) in order to qualify for a pre-emption grant of 160 acres. He patented his application on December 11, 1879. In his affadavit John Fullen swore, and his two witnesses affirmed, that he had occupied the land he was claiming for three consecutive years, from Sept. 30, 1876 through the current date. Witnesses were J. P. Payne and Wm. W. Weatherred. J. P. Payne was a step-son of Thompson Allen, the grandfather of John's wife, Jane Allen Fullen. The original Sabine Preemption Grand is on file at the Texas General Land Office, File #68.

As of 1880, John was living in Bronson and working as a farmer. He and Jane had four children at the time: James, Leala (Lula), Viola, and John. Viola can be found on the actual census microfilm, but is missing from Toole and Speight's transcription of the 1880 census.

None of his children appeared to have been recorded as attending school at the time of the 1890 Scholastic census,unlike those of his brother William, who had attended school. Presumably they were needed at home to help John and Jane on the farm.

According to the Sabine County 1910 Federal Census, John and Jane Fullen had been married for 42 years. They had had 9 children, 7 of whom were still living.

In his Confederate Pension Application file, the Application for Mortuary Warrant indicates that he died of Bright's Disease (kidney disease) in the home of his son, W.F. Fullen of Bronson.

Several photos exist of John Fullen. One is a family grouping, but only he and Jane have been identified positively.

(Written by Melinda McLemore Strong circa 1986 and revised periodically)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Milam Beat, PO Milam
Enumerated 12 Jun 1860
Page 2, Stamped 318
7-7
Solomon Cawsey 44 M Farmer 1000 2625 Miss
Harriet L. Cawsey 34 F $--- $1320 La
William M. Fullen 16 M Tx
John W. Fullen 12 M Tx
William E Cawsey 12 M Tx
Sebern J. Cawsey 2 M Tx
Geo W Cawsey 1/12 M Tx

1870
Not located

Texas, Sabine County, JP 6
Enumerated 9 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 70 Sheet 6B
100-100
Fullen, John Head W M Aug 1844 55 M 33 Tx Tn Tn Farmer
Fullen, Jane Wf W F Dec 1849 50 M 33 12/9 Tx Miss Tx
Fullen, Daisy Dau W F Nov 1883 16 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Wiley Son W M July 1886 13 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Fullen, Franklin Son W M Jan 1889 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Clyde Son W M Nov 1890 9 S Tx Tx Tx

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 6
Enumerated 11 May 1910
SD 2 ED 133 Sheet 32A
211-211
Fullen, John W. Head M W 64 m1 42 Tx Tn Pa Farming Home Farm
Fullen, Jane C Wf F W 57 M1 42 9/7 Tx Mi Tx
Fullen, Clyde Son M w 19 S Tx Tx Tx Farming

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 6
Enumerated 17 Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 173 Sheet 16A Stamped 212
306-306
Becton, Jim L Hd M W 36 M Tx NC Miss Farmer
Becton, Daisie M Wf F W 36 M Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Ivie B Dtr F W 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Howard I Son F (sic) W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Fay A Dtr F W 7 Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Gladis R Dtr F W 2 8/12 S Tx Tx Tx
307-307
Fullen, John W Hd M W 72 M Tx Ms Ms Farmer
Fullen, Jane Wf F W 69 Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, James W Son M W 50 Wd Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Fullen, Drew O Grandson M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Luke T Grandson M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx

(Medical):Brights Disease (Kidney Disease)

John married Jane Allen about 1868 in Sabine County, Texas. Jane (daughter of John Wooldridge Allen and Caroline C. McGrew) was born on 5 Dec 1850 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 6 Jan 1926 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her middle initial is shown sometimes as C and sometimes as K. It is not known what her actual middle name was.

Nina Fuller always said that her grandmother, Jane (Allen) Fullen was "half Indian." It has not been proved if this is true, or merely a legend. The name ALLEN appears to be of common use among the Cherokees, and perhaps this is where either the actual Indian blood, or legend of Indian blood, came from. The mtDNA of a child of Nina Fuller, a direct female descendant of Jane, was classified as H. This is the most common mtDNA in Europe, and not one associated with Native American lineage. If Jane was part Indian, it was through her father's family, and not in her direct maternal line.

There is a photo of Jane Fullen, presumably taken shortly before her death in 1926, in a black silk bonnet. This bonnet was given by Jane to her granddaughter Nina (Fuller) McLemore. Nina's daughter, Evon Tisdale gave the bonnet to Melinda (McLemore) Strong.

(Research):A photo of her headstone on Find A Grave appears to be incorrect in listing her birthday as 5 December 1849. Blanche Finley Toole showed this instead as 5 December 1850, supported by census records below:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 1 Oct 1850
12-12
John W. Allin 27 M Farmer South Carolina
Cariline C " 23 F Miss
Jamest T. " 3 M Tx
Elizabeth " 1 F Tx

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Redland Beat No, 4, PO Milam
Enumerated 27 Jun 1860
Page 22
156-156
Allen, J.W,37,M,W, Clock Pedlar, $--- $700 SC
" , James T,13, M, W, TX
" , Elizabeth Do,11,F,W, TX (married to William Fullen)
" , Jane (*),9,F, W, TX (married to John Fullen) (brothers)
" , Susan (#),1, F, W, TX

*Jane is the daughter of J.W. Allen by wife Caroline. Jane was born in December 1850, and the 1850 census was taken in October 1850. Therefore, Caroline would have been between 6 and 7 months pregnant at the time of the census. The 1860 census was taken in June, before Jane had reached her 10th birthday.

#The mother of Susan Allen is not known. It does not seem likely that she is the daughter of John's second wife, Margaret Harvey Allen, who had moved back home with their one year old daughter, Mary Allen. Did John have a daughter by a woman other than his then wife, perhaps leading to their separation? Or is Susan perhaps a niece or other family member? Or are Mary/Susan the same child, listed in both households?

His former wife, Margaret, and his daughter Mary are living in another household in 1860, as follows:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Patroon Beat No 5, PO Milam
Enumerated 6 July 1860
Pages 29 and 30
224-224
ZMA Smith 59 F Farmer 400 671 NC
Margaret Allen 34 F La
W.H. Harvey 21 M Farmer LA
ZMA Smith 8 F Tx
MAA " 5 F Tx
Mary E. Allen 1 F Tx

Notes:

Little is known about James C. Fullen, even his exact name is uncertain. W. F. Fullen, a grandson, reported that both his father AND his grandfather were named JOHN W. FULLEN. He reported this in 1933 however, some 80 years after his grandfather's death, when he was completing his father's death certificate. The name John is inconsistent with several published histories of Sabine County, all of which list the progenitor of the Fullen family of Sabine County as James W. Fullen. No sources are cited.

In Gifford White's book, FIRST SETTLERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS, there is a James C. Fuller (sic) listed as receiving 320 acres of land on 4 Mar 1844. The Texas archives show that this land grant was actually made to a James C. Fullen. Due to both the time frame and the relative rarity of the last name Fullen, it is assumed that James C. was the husband of Rebecca, and father of William and John.

CHEROKEE County Texas

Survey - Person or Concern bearing the land certificate at time survey filed. Block - Block number. Grantee - Person or Concern to whom the land was actually awarded. Leag - League Flag. L = 4,428 acres, B = League + Labor. Labor = 177 acres. Section - Section Number Abs - Number of the Abstract on file at county courthouse and at the
Texas General land Office in Austin.

Survey Blk Grantee Leag Section Abs
JAMES C FULLEN J. FULLEN 724 281


What is known is that Mr. Fullen and his 18 year old wife, Rebecca, moved to the Republic of Texas sometime before the birth of their son William around 1844. They had two more sons over the next three years, and he probably died sometime around or after 1848, when his youngest son was born. He is listed on neither the 1850 Sabine County census, nor is his death reported on the 1850 Mortality Schedule. In the Family Bible owned by Catherine Parker Fullen, thought to be a daughter in law, the following entry is found under Burials: Daddy Fullen 1850.

Even his birthdate is unknown. Presumably he would have been the same age, or older, than his wife Rebecca, who was born circa 1826. The 1850 census indicates that both Rebecca and her husband were born in Pennsylvania. As Rebecca was the only adult in the household, she probably reported this information herself. It appears that their families must have migrated to the South when they were young however. W. F. Fullen did not recall his grandparent's Pennsylvania orgins, but rather reported his grandparents born in North Carolina and Tennessee. On the 1870 census, their oldest son William reported that both his parents were both born in Pennsylvania, while his younger brother John reported them both born in Alabama. In 1900, John reported their place of birth as Tennessee.

There are other families from Pennsylvania on the 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, but none seemed to live nearby the young widow, who was in household number 81. Rebecca's closest neighbors were the Jackson and Davidson families from North Carolina and Tennessee, the Oliphant's from Mississippi, and the Smith's from Virginia. Families with Pennsylvania origins were headed by 70 year old David Welch, household #138; 70 year old George Koher, household #180; 94 year old Henry Stagner, household #191; and 90 year old Michael Widner, household #192. There were a scattering of other families from Pennsylvania as well, but none have obvious links to the Fullen's.

(Research):
Items for later follow up

1810 Census
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Chestnut Ward
HOH James Fullen
Free White Males under 10: one
Free White Males 26-44: one
Free White Females under 10: two
Free White Females 16-25: 1
Number of HH members under 16: 3
Number of HH members over 25: 1
Number of HH members: 5

Also, the 1850 US Census Mortality schedule shows a James Fullen, age 43, and whose occupation was Cooper, as dying of dyspepsia in Westmoreland County, PA in 1850

James married Rebecca Bal(L)\(Dwin) before 1844. Rebecca was born about 1826 in Pennsylvania; died after 1850 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A mother at age 18, and widowed with three young sons at the age of 24. She appears to have remarried Solomon Causey sometime after the 1850 census. It appears that she died prior to 1860, as only her sons, William and John were living in Solomon's home at the time of the 1860 census, along with Solomon's new wife Harriett.

A listing in the Family Bible of Catherine Parker Fullen, under burials, shows:

Becky Fullen 1852

Her grandson, W.F. Fullen, reported her maiden name as Baldwin. Some published histories of Sabine County show her instead as Rebecca Ball. No other Ball or Baldwin families are listed on the 1850 or 1860 Census for Sabine County. The census shows Rebecca as being born in Pennsylvania. Her grandson William reported that she was instead born in North Carolina.

Notes:

Said to have been born in the Old District 96 of South Carolina.

Per FIRST SETTLERS OF SABINE COUNTY he received 320 acres of land on March 4, 1844

It is currently not known where he was located in 1840. There is a John W. Allen listed on the Carroll Parish, Louisiana census at that time. However, that John Allen was born sometime between 1800 and 1810, and has two daughters over the age of 10. It is not currently known if they are the same man.

On the 1854 Scholastic Census, his children Jas T. and Martha (s/b Margaret Elizabeth) were shown as being enrolled

In YELLOWED PAGES: VOLUME XXIV, No. 1, Spring, 1994, page 43, a list of Sabine County Voter's registrations are shown. Information about J.W. Allen is shown as follows:

January 29, 1868: 478 J.W. Allen Pct. Mi3, Years in State--27, Years in County--27, Years in Pct--27, Native of South Carolina.

According to the book "Selected Tax Rolls of Shelby County, Texas 1837,1845,1855,1865,1875,1885," a J.W. Allen paid taxes in Shelby County in 1885.

In her notes, Kate Allen Tirado erroneously list her uncle as John T. Allen, and shows his place of death as Sabine County.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 1 Oct 1850
12-12
John W. Allin 27 M Farmer South Carolina
Cariline C " 23 F Miss
Jamest T. " 3 M Tx
Elizabeth " 1 F Tx

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Redland Beat No, 4, PO Milam
Enumerated 27 Jun 1860
Page 22
156-156
Allen, J.W,37,M,W, Clock Pedlar, $--- $700 SC
" , James T,13, M, W, TX
" , Elizabeth Do,11,F,W, TX (married to William Fullen)
" , Jane (*),9,F, W, TX (married to John Fullen) (brothers)
" , Susan (#),1, F, W, TX

*Jane is the daughter of J.W. Allen by wife Caroline. Jane was born in December 1850, and the 1850 census was taken in October 1850. Therefore, Caroline would have been between 6 and 7 months pregnant at the time of the census. The 1860 census was taken in June, before Jane had reached her 10th birthday.

#The mother of Susan Allen is not known. It does not seem likely that she is the daughter of John's second wife, Margaret Harvey Allen, who had moved back home with their one year old daughter, Mary Allen. Did John have a daughter by a woman other than his then wife, perhaps leading to their separation? Or is Susan perhaps a niece or other family member? Or are Mary/Susan the same child, listed in both households?

His former wife, Margaret, and his daughter Mary are living in another household in 1860, as follows:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Patroon Beat No 5, PO Milam
Enumerated 6 July 1860
Pages 29 and 30
224-224
ZMA Smith 59 F Farmer 400 671 NC
Margaret Allen 34 F La
W.H. Harvey 21 M Farmer LA
ZMA Smith 8 F Tx
MAA " 5 F Tx
Mary E. Allen 1 F Tx

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat 4, PO Milam
Enumerated 2 July 1870
Page 3
112-112
Allen, John W.,47,M,W,Farmer,300, 800, S.C.
" , Frances A., 27,F,W, Ala
" , Britton (*),5,M,W,TX
" , Robert K,4,M,W, TX
" , Theodore I, 2,M,W,TX
Seaford, Frank ,32,M,W,Laborer,Prussia

*Esther McGrew Hardin in San Antonio notes that this is a name often used in the Odom and Means family (associated with the Blackburn and McGrew families of Sabine County). John and Frances Allen were living only two households away from M. Blackburn (Martha Cole Blackburn), a 72 year old Widow (of Alexander Blackburn, brother of Eliz. Blackburn) born in South Carolina and living with the family of J.N. and Susan Bailey.

1880 Census
Texas, Shelby County, Precinct 3
Enumeratd 13 Jun 1880
Page 13 SD 1 ED 89 Stamped 1 56
106-108
Allen, J.W., W,M,67,Farming, SC,GA,SC
" ,F.A., W,F,38,Wife, Keeping House,AL,AL,AL
" ,J.B.,W,M,15,Son,at home, TX,SC,AL
" ,R.G.,W,M,13,Son,at home, TX,SC,AL
" ,Theodore I,W,M,10,Son,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Bannister,W,M,8,Son,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Adelia,W,F,6,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Alarissa?,W,F,4,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Laura,W,F,3,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Annie,W,F,1,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL

John married Caroline C. McGrew on 22 Apr 1845 in Louisiana. Caroline (daughter of Alexander McGrew and Elizabeth Blackburn) was born about 1827 in Marion County, Mississippi; died before 1853 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
It appears from the preponderance of evidence that John Allen's first wife, Caroline C., was the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew. The 1850 Sabine County, Texas census shows that she was born circa 1827 in Mississippi. Alexander and Elizabeth McGrew lived in Marion County, Mississippi at the time of 1820. 1830, and 1840 Federal census. They also had a daughter who has not been accounted for by other researchers that was born sometime between 1820-1825.

Blanche Finley Toole, a Sabine County Genealogist, writes that Caroline McGrew and John Wooldridge Allen were married in Louisiana on 22 April 1845. She was given this information by Edna Mae Hackney, an Allen family researcher. Mrs. Hackney did not cite a source, and to date a marriage license has not been located.

Blanche Toole indicated that both Harriet (McGrew) Partin and Caroline (McGrew) Allen are mentioned in the Estate Settlement of Alexander McGrew who died in late 1849. The Sabine County Clerk notes that the records from this time period were burned in a Courthouse fire.

The strongest written evidence located to date is a deed showing John W. Allen purchasing the former homestead of Alexander McGrew from the Estate of Elizabeth Blackburn McGrew. This is the land that was deeded to her by her husband on January 22, 1849. Blanche believes that the careful wording of the deed shows that they wanted to be very careful and take all precautions to ensure that no questions arose, since relatives were selling to relatives. According to the deed, the land was sold at public auction "in strict conformity to the law, for the sum of four-hundred and one dollars, that being the highest and best bid therefore at sale and whearas afterwards, to wit, at the November term 1868 of said Court, report of said sale having been made in writing on oath and the court having inquired into the manner in which said sale was made and conducted and having found that the same was conducted fair and in accordance with the law, did order and decree that the undersigned administratix make the conveyance." Frances Steel, the Administratix of the Estate of Elizabeth McGrew was the daughter of Harriet McGrew and John Partin, and granddaughter of Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew. The deed was recorded on August 17, 1869 at the office of D. Pratt Clk. Ct. and on March 25, 1882 at the office of W.T. Arnold Co. Clk. Sabine Co, Texas.