Frances Ann Partin

Frances married Alvin Parcout Steele on 3 Mar 1857 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. Alvin was born about 1835 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; died between 1861 and 1865. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Zorado Ellen Steele was born in Feb 1861 in Texas; and died.
2. Susan Steele was born in 1862 in Texas; and died.

Family/Spouse: Rev. Needham Bryant Alford. Needham (son of Needham Judge Alford and Martha Waddell) was born on 30 Jul 1826 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana; died on 7 Apr 1908 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ruth L. Alford was born about 1863 in Louisiana; and died.
2. Samantha Alford was born about 1866 in Texas; and died.
3. Jesse Powell Alford was born on 18 Dec 1870 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; died on 13 Oct 1898 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
4. Frances "Fannie" Harriet Alford was born on 27 Apr 1873 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 10 Jul 1927 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in New Hope Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

Information about the John and Harriet Partin Family was supplied by Bettye Bragg Wagstaff of Bronson, Texas. Her research included the following sources:

1850 Sabine Co. TX census "1850 Sabine County, Texas Census with Corrections and Added Family Information" by Schluter and Toole 1860 Sabine Co. TX census Morris Bible Record (John C. Partin's second wife was Drucilla Cordelia Watkins White. Her sister married Jacob Dickon Morris. Their daughter, Cordelia Morris Dickerson lived next door to Bettye Bragg's family. "Aunt Cord" gave Bettye the family Bible records in the 1950's. It appears that when John C. Partin married Drucillia Cordelia, they entered his birthdate, his marriage date to Drucilla and the birthdate of his children by Harriet McGrew.)

A. P. Steele, Frances's first husband, was connected to the Morris family. They were both from the same area of Kentucky. They are living next door to each other in 1860 in Sabine Co, TX.

In letters to Ester McGrew Hardin, Blanche Toole and others recount a legand of two McGrew brothers returning from the California gold mines, and who stayed briefly with the Partin or Alford family (Harriet McGrew's son in law) on their way back to Mississippi. One was dying, but would let no one attend to him or touch his saddlebag, said to be full of gold. That night he was said to have slipped out to bury the gold. The next morning he was too delirious to tell anyone where he had hidden it, and to this day it has never been found.

John married Harriet McGrew on 17 Jan 1831 in Marion County, Mississippi. Harriet (daughter of Alexander McGrew and Elizabeth Blackburn) was born about 1813 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana; died after 1851 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to both THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW and the notes of Robert Lee McGrew of Pearland, TX, Alexander was probably born around 1778 in South Carolina. Wynema McGrew instead shows he was born in Louisiana/Mississippi Territory, sometime prior to 1783.

He obtained a passport in St. Stephens on September 24, 1797 to go to Georgia. His father had obtained a passport to go to Georgia earlier that same year. A land record indicates that Alexander inhabited and cultivated land near the Tombigbee River around 1797. In the early 1800's he put up a $700 bond as postmaster of Woodstown, AL. In 1801 he bought some land and in 1802, he and his mother sold land in Mississippi. He signed a memorial to Congress in 1803, and in 1806 he sold, along with other heirs of James McGrew, additional land. Alexander married Elizabeth Blackburn on October 16, 1808. Since she was under 18 years old, her father had to first grant his permission. Alexander was a veteren of the War of 1812. (Nixon's Company, Mississippi Militia), serving for the entire three years of the war. On 3 February 1817, he, a brother, and brother-in-law John Johns were charged with assault and battery. Alexander was the only one who paid a fine. In October 1818, he, John Johns, and brothers (this time William, James, and John) once again were fined for assault and battery. On July 11, 1819 he registered his brand "MC."

In 1843, he was involved in a lawsuit over the ownership of a slave named Elvy he was alleged to have stolen.

Alexander and Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew moved to Sabine County in the mid-1840's. They may have moved to join Elizabeth's father, Gabriel Blackburn, who had received a large land grant in Sabine County in 1836. The 1845 tax roll of Sabine County listed A. McGrew as owning 5 slaves. His eldest son, James, paid tax on a horse and a wagon at the same time. Alexander operated a gristmill on the banks of the Palo Guacho Bayou. The Texas Mortality schedule for 1850 showed "Alexander McGrew, age 58, sick 10 days, died 1849 in Sabine County." Alexander's widow, Elizabeth, can be found on the 1850 Sabine County census, along with her children John, Lorenzo, Margaret, and Adaline. She later moved back to Mississippi (Perry County) with her eldest son, James McGrew.

Blanche also indicated that the McGrew family was closely connected to the Methodist Ministers of that time. Son Lorenzo Dow McGrew was apparently named after the "eccentric Methodist Lorenzo Dow. In fact he covered virtually all of the territory of the United States in his peripatetic life, from New England to the Louisiana territory, but his journeys through the Old Southwest left an especially indeliable impression..On September 3, 1804, he married an equally peculiar woman, Peggy, and then the very next morning left her for an eight month trip through the Mississippi Territory." From the book, "A Way through the Wilderness: The Natchez Trace and the Civilization of the Southern Frontier" by William C. Davis (Harper Collins, 1995). According to Robert McGrew of Pearland, the McGrew's were in fact neighbors of preacher Lorenzo Dow in St. Stephens (Alabama) in the Mississippi Territory.

There is a military marker for Alexander McGrew in the Old Milam Cemetery in Sabine County. It is inscribed with a cross and "Alexander McGrew, Pvt Capt Motts Co, 15 Miss Militia, War of 1812. [Died] 2 Oct 1849. "

The Sabine County Reporter
October 22, 2014
Pages 1 and 2

"Milam Cemetery receives marker"

The Texas Historic Cemetery Dedication Ceremony for Milam Cemetery took place on Saturday, October 11, following the annual Nethery reunion...local historian Weldon McDaniel....gave a presentation outlining some of the significant historical events that took place in Milam and the importance of preserving the history of Milam Cemetery. He said as many as 85 percent of all early settlers coming into Texas put their boots in red dirt. Although San Augustine and Nacogdoches counties have a friendly battle over which is older, Milam is just as old as either of them....

Dorothy Nethery Spain had the honor of reading the script engraved on the marker:

"Milam, the first County Seat of Sabine County, has a history of travelers and visitors stretching back centuries. Native Americans and Spanish exploreres, soldiers and missionaries passed through and often camped on Las Boregas Creek. Texian settlers encountering the natural abundance echoed the words of Stephen F. Austin, who recorded in his diary entry of July 16, 1821: "We then suddenly came to an open rolling country thinly timbered soil about the color of Spanish browne, and in some places redder. This Red Land is very productive and is covered with the most luxuriant growth of grass I ever beheld in any country." The settlment first called Red Mound (Red Mount) was the seat of Government for the Sabine District since 1822, and was surveyed as a town site in 1828.

Milam Cemetery is on a high hill overlooking the historic community. The exact dated of the first burial will never be known Spanish Explorers were passing through present-day Milam as early as 1539 and camped on Las Boregas Creek a few hundred yards west of the cemetery. Local hisorians believed Anglo burials occurred here probably as early as 1775, since travelers used the campsite down the hill on the Las Boregas. The land on which the cemetery is located was granted to JOHN SMITH on Feb. 26, 1835. The first marked burial is dated 1864, although more than 100 unmarked graves are suspected. The numerous military Veterans dating back to the Creek War are interred here, as well as prominent early citizens from the CAUSEY, WEATHERRED. McGREW, and NETHERY families. Milam Cemetery may be the oldest organized cemetery in Sabine County, and cherished chronicle of generations of visitors and residents."

Alexander married Elizabeth Blackburn on 14 Oct 1808 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Elizabeth (daughter of Gabriel Blackburn and Frances Tyner) was born between 1794 and 1796 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana; died after 1860 in Perry County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Medical):The child of a direct female descendant of Elizabeth Blackburn (Nina Fuller, the daughter of Viola Fullen and granddaughter of Jane Allen) had their mtDNA analyzed, and it was predicted as H, with only one difference from the Cambridge Reference Sequence, 16519C, which is a fast moving marker. Mitochondrial haplogroup H is a predominantly European haplogroup that participated in a population expansion beginning approximately 20,000 years ago. Today, about 30% of all mitochondrial lineages in Europe are classified as haplogroup H. It is rather uniformly distributed throughout Europe suggesting a major role in the peopling of Europe, and descendant lineages of the original haplogroup H appear in the Near East as a result of migration. Future work will better resolve the distribution and historical characteristics of this haplogroup.

On her Clan Helena website, Amelia Reimer writes that, "Whether just by chance or by the guiding hand of natural selection we do not know, but Helena's clan has grown to become the most widespread and successful of the Seven Daughters of Eve. Her children have reached every shore, settled every forest and crossed every mountain range. Helena's descendants can be found from the Alps in the South to the Scottish Highlands and the Norwegian fjords in the North, and as far east as the Urals and the Russian steppes. Helena was born about 20,000 years ago on the strip of land that joins France and Spain, near what is now Perpignan. She belonged to a family of hunters, who harvested the rich oyster beds in the lagoons of the Carmargue to supplement their diet of meat. Helena's clan arrived in Europe from the Middle East, pushing their way along the Mediterranean, constrained to the narrow strip of land that was still habitable. Not long after she was born, the glaciers that covered the Pyrenees, which Helena could see on a clear day only thirty miles from her camp, began to draw back as, little by little, the summers grew warmer. Some of her clan moved south of the mountains, up the valley of the Ebro to the West to reach the lands of the Basque, where they remain to this day. The most adventurous of her children took advantage of the climatic improvements and journeyed ever northwards to join the great movement of hunters across the plains of France. We know that they reached England around 12,000 years ago because DNA recovered from a young male skeleton found in Gough's Cave in Somerset shows that he too belonged to the clan of Helena. [Same cave as Cheddar Man, but 3,000 years older.] "

Notes:

Married:
Wilkinson County Courthouse--Woodville, Mississippi Circuit Clerks Office Marriage Book A ---- page 293

Know all men by these presents that we, ALEXANDER MCGRAW and Ezekial Petty, both of the county of Wilkinson, Mississippi Territory, are held and firmly bound unto the Governor of the Mississippi Territory and his successors in office, in the sum of $200 which payment well and truly be made, we bind ourselves and each our executors, administrators, and severally firmly by these presences sealed with our seals and dated the 12 of October 1808.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whearas the above bound Alexander McGraw hath this day prayed and obtained the license to be joined in marriage to ELIZABETH BLACKBURN of the County aforesaid, Now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct this marriage for which the license was granted, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Signed, Alexander McGrew and Ezekial Petty (his mark)


Marriage Book A --- page 305 This is to certify that I, G.B. am willing to the marriage of my daughter to Mr. Alexander McGraw. Given under my hand this 13th day of October 1808. Signed, Gabriel Blackburn

Marriage Book A --- page 135 (315?) On the 16th day of October 1808, I joined in Matrimony Mr. Alexander McGraw and Miss Elizabeth Blackburn. Signed, Josias Gray, J.P.

Per a Family Group Sheet prepared by Mary Frances SMITH Fisher of Jackson, Mississippi, Alexander McGrew and his wife Elizabeth Blackburn were the parents of nine known children, and three additional children, a daughter born ca. 1810-1815 per the 1820 and 1830 Marion County, Mississippi census, a daughter born ca. 1820-1825, per the 1830 and 1840 census, and a son born ca. 1830-1835, per the 1840 census. Bettye Bragg Wagstaff of Sabine County, Texas indicated that some researchers indicate 10 children were born.

Mary Fisher used the following information in her research: 1816 MISS Marion County census 7th page 1820 MISS Marion County census page 85 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45 3 females under 10, 1 female 16-26 1830 MISS Marion County census page 117 5 sons, 4 daughters plus he and Elizabeth 1840 MISS Marion County census page 117 1850 TEX Sabine County census- Elizabeth McGrew. He was listed on the Mortality Schedule. 1860 MISS Perry County census page 12, Family # 88/81 Elizabeth McGrew

Her family group sheet lists the following children:
**James Alexander McGrew b. ca 1810 m. to Elizabeth Lott
Harriet McGrew b. ca 1813 m. to John C. Partin
**William McGrew b. ca 1815 m. to Dorinda Lott
**Eliza Ann McGrew b. ca 1816 m. to Elisha M. Collins
**John Gabriel McGrew b. ca 1821 d. ca 1857 in Sabine County
**Ferdinand L. McGrew b. ca 1825 died 24 Aug 1846 in the Mexican War
**Lorenzo Dow McGrew b. circa 1828 m. to Mary Margaret Neeley
**Margaret McGrew b. circa 1835
**Adaline McGrew b. circa 1838

**Matches the LDS Family Group Sheet from Ancestral File Ver 4.15. The LDS sheet did not include Harriet McGrew, and additionally showed the following three children, apparently in error:
Thomas McGrew b. ca 1824
Samantha McGrewb. ca 1826
-male McGrew b. prior to 1830, m. 1838 to Serena ? and died 1842

Thomas and Samantha are actually the children of Alexander's brother, James Tate McGrew. They are listed in his will.

Notes:

According to Feldman's ANGLO-AMERICANS IN SPANISH ARCHIVES (p 27) he and John McGrew were American residents of Mobile on January 1, 1786.

Wynema McGrew writes (p. 7) that he may also have been a royalist and left the Carolinas in the late 1770s of early 1780s, moving to area that became the Mississippi Territory, as had his older brother John. He received a Spanish land grant in 1788.

The following information is courtesy of Ester McGrew Hardin, and was originally prepared by Robert Lee McGrew of Pearland, Texas in December 1986. Some additional information has been added to his work from loose papers owned by Mrs. Hardin and from the book THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW by Everette L. McGrew, 2106 Freeland Way, Dallas TX 75228.

James witnessed the sale of property on March 30, 1770 in Tyrone County, North/South Carolina by Alexander Kilpatrick on both sides of the Pacelot River. This is near where his brother, John, had bought land October 9, 1770. The brothers left Tyrone County in 1778, with their wives and children, and settled in Mississippi.

James settled, however, in the area of St. Stephens, Alabama, on the banks of the Tombigbee River. This was a remote area with few settlers. The boundaries of Washington County at that time were the Chattahooche River on the east, Pearl River on the west, the 31st parallel on the south, and 32 degrees, 28 minutes on the north. From this 25,000 square miles, 26 counties in Mississippi and Alabama were later formed.

Many of these early settlers from the Carolinas and Georgia were in the territory as early as 1775, and as such were subject to the laws of the ruling Spanish Government. In keeping with Spanish regulations, the commandant of the Alabama Fort of San Esteban de Tombecbe compiled in 1797 a census of the settlers of the district. This list contained fifty-one (51) families; two of which were those of John and James McGrew. They became leaders of their settlement and were successful planters living on large plantations and active in early territory politics. James's brother, John McGrew, Sr., became on of the wealthiest planters in the south, owning approximately 4000 acres. On the 1808 tax rolls, he paid a tax of $25.05 on 29 slaves and a 640 acre section.

Mrs. Hardin had in her papers a copy of a letter from The Catholic Center, Archdiocese of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama dated January 27, 1982. It showed the following baptism's:

Ana (Nancy), Maria Casia (Keziah), Guillermo (William), Juan (John), children of Santiago (James) and Constancia Tibbett (Constance Tillet) Magrew, (Protestants). Dated 17 Nov 1788. Recorded Page 31, Bapt. Rcds. Bk #2.

Under Spanish regulations all residents were required to have their children baptized by a Catholic priest, even if they were not Catholic.

JAMES McGREW, had died in 1797 at the age of 57. According to THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW a James McGrew of St. Stephen's obtained a passport to go to Georgia on 8 January 1797. Possibly James died while on this trip?

James's widow, Constance, and children petitioned the Congress of the United States of American for title to his land, since the original title had been a Spanish grant, and as of 1799 the territory had been taken over by the United States. John also petitioned for his land. Many letters were written to President Thomas Jefferson, and to the Congress of the United States. These were signed by John Flood McGrew, William McGrew, John McGrew, Sr, and John McGrew, Jr. [Col. John Flood McGrew was a member of the Territorial Council, and friend of Chief Pushmataha, chief of the Choctaw tribe]. These petitions were granted and full titles to the lands in question were given to the two McGrew families. John and his children prospered during the next few years, as did Constance McGrew and her grown children. Constance tried to also obtain a grant for an additional 604 acres of land, but was denied. She and her children later sold the 400 acres of their land to Wm. and John Pierce.

Below, from the AMERICAN STATE PAPERS Volume 1, p. 686, is the summary of the hearing related to the land grant of James and Constantia McGrew in the Mississippi territory:

The heirs of James McGREW, case no. 53 on the docket of the Board, and no. 73 on the books of the Register. Claim--Of 400 acres, by virtue of a Spanish warrant of survey, under the first section of the act. The claimants presented their claim, together with a surveyor's plot of the land claimed, in the following words and figures, to wit: To the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress passed the 3rd day of March, 1803, to receive and adjust claims of lands east of Pearl River. Please take notice, that the following tract of land, situated on the west side of the river Tombigbee, butting and bounded as follows: beginning on a corner cotton tree, above Reams's line and lands claimed by Young Gains, &c, about two miles below Fort St. Stephen's, (supposed;) thence, running south, eighteen degrees west, one hundred and twenty-six chains fifty links, to a corner red oak; ...... thence, down the meanders of the river to the first mentioned station; .....is claimed by James McGrew, or by his heirs, to wit: Peggy McGrew, Eliza McGrew or Eliza De Castro, Alexander McGrew, Giles McGrew, James McGrew, Jane McGrew, Nancy McGrew, Keziah McGrew, John McGrew, and Wm. McGrew, children of said James McGrew, under and by virtue of a Spanish warrant or order of survey, granted unto him, the said James McGrew, on the day of; and the said claimant did, on the 27th day of October, 1795, inhabit and cultivate the tract herein specified, agreeably to the requistions of the first section of an act of Congress, entitled an act, and the same does not appear to be claimed by any preceding provision of the act, and now exhibited to the Register of the Land Office, established east of Pearl river, to be recorded as is directed by said act. To all which they beg leave to refer, as also to the plot hereto fixed, &c, &c. Presented February 29th, 1804, by Elizabeth De Castro, her X mark. Witness, Edwin Lewis. Surveyed in February, 1804, by Robert Ligon. Chain carriers, Young Gains, Dawson Grimes.

In support of this claim, a Spanish warrant of survey was exhibited in the following words and figures, to wit: Don Estevan Miro, Colonel of the royal army, Governor civil and military of the city and province of Louisiana,&c.,&c. Mobile, 12th January, 1788. James McGrew, inhabitant of this jurisdiction of Mobile, with the greatest respect to your excellency, represents and says, that there is on the Tombigee river ten acres of vacant land, which until now, has never been claimed by any proprietor; he begs your excellency to grant him, with the profounder customery, with papers of titles necessary from the Secretary of Government, that may correspond witht he concession; for which favor he will be forever thankful. (signed) James McGrew. Certified by Vicent Folch.
.
Both Wynema McGrew, the author of a book about the Descendants of James McGrew, and G.E. McGrew, 132 Lausanne Drive, Camden, SC 29020 suggest that the McGrews of South Carolina are from Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, and landed in Charleston SC in May, 1773. See LDS Alm(?) 874714, at the Orangeburg Historical Society in South Carolina.

Esther McGrew Hardin instead speculates that the McGrew's might be descended from Quaker families originally from Pennsylvania. Many McGrew's can be found in Orange County, North Carolina records. Additionally, in the corner of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, many members of the Blackburn, Means and McGrew families were all kin, a pattern of intermarriage between these families that continued for many generations. It is possible they came to Pennyslvania from Omagh.

James married Constance Tillett before 1774 in South Carolina. Constance was born about 1752; died between 1805 and 1808 in St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Constance Tillett was likely a daughter of Giles Tillett of Virginia, who was an early settler of Georgia. In 1773, he can be living with his wife and 4 sons and 3 daughters on 500 ares of land at the fork of Broad river (Georgia), where he built a cabin. During the American Revolution, he was purportedly an unrepentant loyalist. On 12 October 1774, in response to the Boston Tea Party, the settlers of Kyoka (Kiokee) and Broad River signed a protest "against any resolutions expressive of disloyalty to our most gracious King and the Lords and Commons of Great Britian." Everette McGrew notes that he was a member of the South Carolina Dragoons, Capt. John Harrison's Company, South Carolina Light Dragoons, St. Augustine, FL, 25 Apr 1783, along with George and James Tillett.

Notes:

The following was copied from the notes of Mary Frances SMITH Fisher of Jackson, Mississippi, loaned to Melinda McLemore Strong by Esther McGrew Hardin ca 1998:

New Orleans Christian Advocate October 12, 1859

The following obituary was written by Rev. William Winans, an early Mississippi circuit riding preacher, from information [presumably] told him by Gabriel Blackburn. "G. Blackburn was born in Samson (sic) County, North Carolina, in the year 1769; was carried thence by his parents, at two years old, to Caroline County, S.C. (?). Two other removes brought him near to Georgetown, in the same State, where he married at the age of twenty-one years. In 1793 he removed to the State of Tennessee; in 1797, to the neighborhood of Natchez, in the then Mississippi Territory. His next remove was into West Florida-then a Spanish Province-near where the town of Jackson now stands. Finally, he removed to the neighborhood of Monticello, in the State of Mississippi, where he died several years ago, "rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God."

Notes: Sampson County, NC was formed in 1784 from Duplin, Johnston, & New Hanover counties. Several early Blackburns were in this area, but no proof has been located on who his parents were. The 1790 South Carolina Census verifies his location in that area as he is listed as living in Georgetown District, Prince Fredericks Parish. He was shown as married on the census. No records of him in Tennessee have been discovered. Fisher speculates that Rev. Winans apparently lost contact with Gabriel Blackburn, as he did not show the correct location of death.

THE NATCHEZ COURT RECORDS 1767-1805, ABSTRACTS OF EARLY RECORDS by May Wilson McBee

This book verifies his presence in Natchez. On page 391, (a record of Book B, Land Claims) claim #452, page 345, Gabriel Blackburn and William Dunbar were the witnesses on May 9, 1798 to a deed where John Wylie, of Natchez, sold to David Ferguson 100 square acres for $150


SPANISH WEST FLORIDA INDEX, YEAR 1806

Reference 1209, Film Roll 89 Gabriel Blackburn sold 400 arpents in "New Feliciana" to John Rhea for 400 pesos cash on 9 September 1806. This is the same property listed on page 43 of the above referenced American State Papers. It was a Spanish Grant, and the document was written in Spanish and transcribed for the West Feliciana Parish records. From the transcription: "I, Don Carlos de Grand-Pre', Colonial of the Royal Armies, Military and Civil Governor of the Post and District of Baton Rogue, certify that I know the grantors who signed with Samuel Fulton and Thomas Estevan."

Witnesses: Carlos de Grand-Pre', Samuel Fulton, Thomas Estevan, GABRIEL BLACKBURN, John Scott


AMERICAN STATE PAPERS Vol 3, page 43

Register of Claims to land in the district west of Pearl River, in Louisiana, founded on complete grants derived from either the French, British, or Spanish Governments, which in the opinion of the undersigned commissioners are valid, agreeable to the laws, usages, or customs of such Governments. Item #194. By whom claimed: Gabriel Blackburn, Original claimant: G. Blackburn, Nature of claim: Spanish Patent, Date of claim: 18 Sept 1809 Quantity Claimed: 400 arpents, Where situated: Feliciana, By whom issued: J. Morales, When surveyed: 27 July 1799, By whom surveyed: V. Pintado, Cultivation and Inhabitation: 1805-1814


AMERICAN STATE PAPERS Vol 3, page 65, Item #15

Claimed by: Gabriel Blackburn, Qty: 800, Where: Feliciana, General remarks: Papers carried to Pensacola by V.S. Pintado

AMERICAN STATE PAPERS Vol 3, Page 468, Item #50

Present Claimant: David Thomas, Original Claimant: Gabriel Blackburn, Nature of Claim: Plat and Certification, Quantity: 817, Where: Feliciana, By whom issued: Carondelet, When surveyed: 21 August 1805, By whom surveyed: V. Pintado, Inhabitation and Cultivation: 1806-1820

In the NOTORIAL BOOK E, PAGE 130-131, EAST FELICIANA PARISH, CLINTON, LOUISIANA, in a document dated 12 March 1817, it appears that Gabriel Blackburn of Feliciana sold to David Thomas of Mississippi the above referenced tract of land (pg. 65 and pg. 468) for $2,500

NOTORIAL BOOK B, PAGE 13, WEST FELICIANA PARISH, ST. FRANCISVILLE, LOUISIANA shows Gabriel Blackburn as "Constable for the Parish of Feliciana, Territory of Orleans." This document refers to the date "24 July 1812" and was recorded on 10 December 1818. He would have been constable prior to 30 April 1812, when Louisiana became a state, but after Feliciana Parish was formed.

LOUSIANA SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812 compiled by Marion John Bennett Pierson

P. 12 Gabriel Blackburn, Alexander S. Blackburn (his eldest son) Gabriel Blackburn-1 Sgt.-Pvt.-Capt. Griffith's Co. Mounted Riflemen, La. Vols. Alexander S. Blackburn-Pvt.-Capt. Griffith's Co. Mounted Riflemen, La. Vols. I. Blackburn-Pvt.-First Regiment (de jan's) La. Militia (relationship unknown)

(All Louisiana information was supplied to Mrs. Fisher by Jean Loflin of Baton Rouge, a fellow Stringer researcher)

Land Patents from the Department of Interior and National Archives
St. Stephens Land Office
Patent #1505 Patent dated Dec. 1, 1830
Recorded in Vol. 24, Page 309 (Washington)
Date of Sales 29 Jan 1816
Original Purchaser, William McGREW
Amount 160.12 acres
Location Twp 4 North, Range 17 West, SE 1/4 of Section One
To whom Patented Gabriel Blackburn
Date of Final Certificate 23 Jun 1829
Signed by President Andrew Jackson

The reverse side of the receipt #546 reads as follows: "I, William McGrew do transfer all wright, title, and interest to the within Certificate over to Gabriel Blackburn this third day of February 1817." Acknowledged before the day and year just written, Wm. Lott, Q. M. (Justice of the Quorum)

BOUNTY REQUEST from the National Archives 1855- Rejected File #184522 War of 1812, re-examined 9 January 1857 "Gabriel Blackburn Sgt. served in Captain Llewellyn Griffith's Co, LA Militia from 29 Oct until 22 Jan 1815, when he was reduced in ranks and served as private till 24 Mar 1815." (After the Battle of New Orleans, while he was in service in that area, so it is probable he took part in that battle). This bounty request was filed from Milam, Sabine County, Texas on June 23, 1855 by Gabriel's daughter, Elizabeth Blackburn McGrew, widow of Alexander McGrew.

It reads:

"STATE OF TEXAS, COUNTY OF SABINE

On this 18th day of June AD 1855 personally appeared before me the undersigned authority, authorized to administer oaths for general purposes within and for the said county, ELIZABETH MCGREW aged 59 years, a resident of said county and State who being by me duly sworn according to the law on oath declares that, affidavit: Alexander S. Blackburn, Harriet Freeland, Armstrong J. Blackburn, Feliciana Cole, Ferdinand Blackburn, and Frances A. Means are the sole surviving heirs of Gabriel Blackburn, deceased, being (the) deceaseds own children, that the said Gabriel Blackburn died in the year 1848, that said Gabriel Blackburn is the identical person who voluntered a Private in the company commanded by Captain Griffith, name of Col. and no of regiment not recollected, in the war with Great Britian declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, that he voluntered 1813 for and during the war and continued in active service in said war for something near one year and was honorably discharged, thinks at New Orleans. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining Bounty Land, for self and co-heirs, which they may be entitled to under the acts of Congress, heretofore passed, Granting Bounty Lands to certain officers, soldiers who have been engaged in the military services of the United States" she further states that "she has not received a warrant for Bounty Land under the act of Congress nor made any other application therefor is this Behalf." Signed Elizabeth McGrew Witnessed by Gideon A. Norford and James M. Weathered, residents of Sabine County. who declared that they were well acquantied with Gabriel Blackburn, and that he died in Sabine in 1848.

Note: The clerks lined out the names of: Harriet Freeland, Armstrong J. Blackburn, Feliciana Cole, and Ferdinand Blackburn, presumably because they had never been to Texas and were not personally known to the clerks.

In a letter from Mary Fisher to Esther McGrew Hardin of San Antonio, she asks "Do you have the reference that states "Gabriel Blackburn had the reputation for making the best corn whiskey in the Mississippi Territory?" Someone told me about this but they could not locate it and they could not remember where they found it. I would love to have a copy...I did locate one statement in "Mississippi as a Providence, Territory and State" by Gov. C.C. Claiborne that might be what they were thinking about. 'The Creek Indians stole a large lot of whiskey belonging to Parson Blackburn.' This was in the chapter "Natchez in the Olden Times", page 528. It went on to say he was an eminent "Presbyterian" clergyman, so I am not sure if it was Gabriel or not. Do you have the New Orleans Christian Advocate article? It is the most fascinating thing that I have found. It tells how Gabriel plotted to kill a man before he became a Christian. Let me know if you need it."

In her reply, Esther McGrew Hardin cited the book "Annals of Tennessee" by Ramsey, in which there is a story of Gideon Blackburn, who established with Samuel Doak a Presbyterian college, and became a noted Presbyterian preacher. Esther stated that this must be the Pastor Blackburn who had the stash of whiskey stolen by the Indians. She noted other references to Gideon Blackburn in the Mississippi History by Claiborne and in "Tennessee Cousins" by Worth S. Ray. Esther believes it possible that Gideon and Gabriel were related, and this might be why Gabriel went to Tennessee.

According to Blanche Finley Toole of Sabine County, Texas, Gabriel Blackburn's home was just west of the Old Milam cemetery and his Gristmill was located on Borreagus Creek. This property later (much later) became the property of the John W. Allen family. Allen descendants still live there and know where the old lost cemetery is. According to an article in the August 26, 1965 SABINE COUNTY REPORTER entitled "Mrs. Etta Nichols Speaks on History of Low's Chapel.. "Long leaf virgin timber grew prolifically in the vicinity at the Allen Saw Mill on Palo Guacho Creek."

Gabriel may have been buried in the Old Milam cemetery, or his body may have been returned to Columbia, Mississipi to be interred on his old homeplace on Highway 13, on property owned in 1963 by a Mr. Polk.





(Research):

Census Information:


1840 Census
Mississippi, Marion County
Stamped 116

Gabriel Blackburn

Free White Males
70 thru 79-1

Free White Females
70 thru 79-1


Slaves

Males 36 thru 54-2
Females 36 thru 54-2

Total All Persons 6
Person employed in agriculture:: 3

Ancestry also shows a Gabriel Blackburn on the 1841 Marion County, Mississippi State Census and on the 1845 Marion County, Mississippi State Census. Additonally, there is a Gabriel Blackburn in Lawrence County, Mississippi in 1841.

They also show Gabriel Blackburn of Sabine County on the Republic of Texas Poll List for 1846, as well as being on the Texas Tax list for 1846.

Gabriel married Frances Tyner before 1790 in Georgetown District, South Carolina. Frances was born about 1768 in South Carolina; died on 15 Jul 1853 in DeWitt County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She might have instead been born in North Carolina. Per affidavit of Richard Eugene Blackburn (courtesy of Mary Frances Smith Fisher, by way of Rozier Dedwylder), she was a sister of Sarah Tyner who married Robert Lott who was murdered at his home on Black Creek by the Copeland Gang in 1844. Mary Frances Smith Fisher notes that her father might be Benjamin Tyner.

Blanche Toole of Sabine County instead shows her maiden name as IRVINE. This may simply have been speculation based on son Armstrong Irvine Blackburn's middle name.

Mary Frances Fisher Smith had in her notes, from Dr. Johnie L. Reeves of Austin, the following obituary:

The Gonzalez Inquirer
Gonzalez, Texas
16 July 1853, page. 3, Col. 1
Microfilm, The Eugene C. Barker Texas History Center, Austin, Texas

Died after a prolonged illness, on the 15th inst., at the residence of Col. W. Means, Mrs. FRANCES BLACKBURN, age 93 years.

She emigrated to east Texas in 1843, thence to western Texas in '49. She was a warm and devoted Christian, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 45 years, during which time she was the subject of many and severe trials, all of which she bore with Christian meekness and resignation. She was indeed, and in truth a help-mate for her husband, he being a minister of the Gospel, also a member of the Masonic Fraternity. She ever manifested a deep interest in the salvation of the souls of her fellow beings. She was an affectionate mother, always endevouring to train her children in the way they should go, and instilling into their minds the principles of the Divine Word. She left a number of relatives and friends to mourn her loss, but they mourn not as those having no hope.

Dr. Reeves notes that if the age of death (93) is correct, Frances should have been born ca 1760 versus 1768, as previously supposed.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Dewitt County,
Enumerated 11 Sept 1850
48-48
William Means 40 M Farmer $10,000 Ga
Francis Means 39 F Miss
Ferdinand B. Means 19 M La
Margaret L. Means 17 F Tx
Sarah F. Means 13 F Tx
Napolean F. Means 11 M Tx
William B. Means 9 M Tx
Francis Blackburn 82 F SC





(Medical):The child of a direct female descendant of Frances Tyner (Elizabeth Blackburn>Caroline McGrew>Jane Allen>Viola Fullen>Nina Fuller>son Tom McLemore) had their mtDNA analyzed, and it was predicted as H, with only one difference from the Cambridge Reference Sequence, 16519C, which is a fast moving marker. Mitochondrial haplogroup H is a predominantly European haplogroup that participated in a population expansion beginning approximately 20,000 years ago. Today, about 30% of all mitochondrial lineages in Europe are classified as haplogroup H. It is rather uniformly distributed throughout Europe suggesting a major role in the peopling of Europe, and descendant lineages of the original haplogroup H appear in the Near East as a result of migration. Future work will better resolve the distribution and historical characteristics of this haplogroup.

On her Clan Helena website, Amelia Reimer writes that, "Whether just by chance or by the guiding hand of natural selection we do not know, but Helena's clan has grown to become the most widespread and successful of the Seven Daughters of Eve. Her children have reached every shore, settled every forest and crossed every mountain range. Helena's descendants can be found from the Alps in the South to the Scottish Highlands and the Norwegian fjords in the North, and as far east as the Urals and the Russian steppes. Helena was born about 20,000 years ago on the strip of land that joins France and Spain, near what is now Perpignan. She belonged to a family of hunters, who harvested the rich oyster beds in the lagoons of the Carmargue to supplement their diet of meat. Helena's clan arrived in Europe from the Middle East, pushing their way along the Mediterranean, constrained to the narrow strip of land that was still habitable. Not long after she was born, the glaciers that covered the Pyrenees, which Helena could see on a clear day only thirty miles from her camp, began to draw back as, little by little, the summers grew warmer. Some of her clan moved south of the mountains, up the valley of the Ebro to the West to reach the lands of the Basque, where they remain to this day. The most adventurous of her children took advantage of the climatic improvements and journeyed ever northwards to join the great movement of hunters across the plains of France. We know that they reached England around 12,000 years ago because DNA recovered from a young male skeleton found in Gough's Cave in Somerset shows that he too belonged to the clan of Helena. [Same cave as Cheddar Man, but 3,000 years older.] "