Rosa V. McLemore

Notes:

Also shown by Merritt Mullen as Roseland Lavinia. She married Lofton Fairchild PITTMAN.

Her tombstone reads: R.V. McLemore Pittman Apr 2, 1861 Mar 11, 1811 Wife of L F Pittman. We loved you, yes we loved you, but Jesus loved you more, and has sweetly called you to yonder shining shore.

Notes:

Henry Lee writes that the Leaf River Baptist Minutes show that Amos McLemore was baptised on June 20, 1830. Minutes show he became a leader in the church, a close affiliated of the Providence Baptist Church now in Forrest County, Mississippi.

The following Biographical information was excerpted from Everett Roy Hammond's complilation titled MAJOR AMOS McLEMORE, Published by the Jones Co. Genealogical & Historical Organization, Laurel, MS, 2002.

"Amos moved with his family to Perry County, Mississippi [around 1836] when they settled on the old homeplace out from Estabuchie. At the time of his marriage to his cousin, Rosa Lavinia McLemore, Amos was a Methodist-Episcopal minister in the Leaf River Circuit encompassing Jones and Perry counties. He was also working as a school teach in Ellisville where he and Rosa lived. How long Major McLemore worked as a teacher and minister is not known. The 1860 census gives his occupation as "merchant." He was engaged in the merchantile business with Dr. John McCormick Bayliss near the old Bayliss home, on the west side of the Leaf River and west of Eastabutchie, MS. John Bayliss was a son of wealthy slaveholder and Methodist minister, George Bayliss. This is the same John Bayliss who was a secessionist candidate in the Jones County election held Dec. 20, 1861. His opponent was John H. Powell, Jr. a Unionist candidate. It is known that Amos was involved in land speculation during this period and had increased both his wealth and status. Thus at the beginning of the War Between the States, Amos and Rosa were quite prosperous. They owned at least 700 acres of land and a half interest in the mercantile business. However, like the majority of most Southerners, Amos's wife apparently lost almost everything during the War except the land, site of the old homeplace, which Amos's mother, Anna Maria, had inherited from her husband John when he died in 1854.

Confederate law provided for receipt of organized units as well as individual recruits into military service. Amos McLemore wrote the Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis, requesting permission to raise a company on May 27, 1861. Permission was granted, and on August 10, 1861, the company raised by McLemore was enlisted in Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi. McLemore called his company the Rosinheels (sometimes written as Rosin Heels) and that is the name that appears on the first muster roll of the company. It was eventually replaced by the official designation, Company B, 27th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. The original 99 officers and men were drawn primarily from Jones and Perry counties. They marched from Ellisville to Marion Station, Lauderdale County where they were mustered into service on September 10, 1861 and Amos was commissioned as Captain.

The Rosinheels were first sent to Pensacola, Florida and assigned to the defense of Fort McRee. In 1862, they were sent by train to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Some six weeks after their arrival they, along with the rest of Bragg's command, embarked to Perryville, Kentucky and on Oct. 8, 1862 some 16,000 Confederate troops engaged and defeated a Yankee army of 60,000 men. The battle of Perryville is remember for its intensity and fury and lasted only about six hours. At the end of the day, some 7,5000 men on both sides were dead, wounded or missing. Half of the Rosinheels were either killed or wounded, with Capt. McLemore himself seriously wounded. In late December, barely recovered from their last battle, the 27th Mississippi Regiment was ordered to form a line of battle before Murfreesboro, flanking to the right of Walthall's Brigade in an open field swept both by freezing rain and intense Union artillery and rifle fire. Virtually two-thirds of the Confederate's effective foreces were destroyed on a piece of ground less than an acre in size. In spite of this, they swept the Union troops back 1200 yards, caputuring six artillery pieces and an entire company of Union Sharpshooters. Many men were sent to the rear suffering form exhaustion and exposure, but Capt. McLemore remained in command of the Rosin Heels throughout the engagement. After the battle, their duty consisted mainly of working on fortification and patrolling roads facing the enemy. On March 26, 1863, Amos McLemore was promoted to the rank of Major and third in command of the 27th Regiment. In July, 1863, his regiment, along with the rest of Walthall's Brigade, was sent to Atlanta to protect the supply depots and ordinance shops there from the Union Army.

Maj. Amos McLemore's temporary and final assignment for the confederacy was not on the battlefield. Gettysburg and Vicksburg had been lost with an appalling number of casualities.The Confederate forces were in desparate need of men to replace those they had already lost. In mid-August, 1863, McLemore was sent by General Bragg to return to the area in which his original regiment had been raised in order to both encourage new enlistment and to return stragglers to the ranks of their regiment. He was to persuade if possible, and compel if necessary, the return to service of the large number of deserters and stragglers in the area. With the help of an Amnesty offer from General Bragg, Major McLemore had had considerable success, and was known to have returned some 119 soldiers to battlefield. However, on October 5, 1863 his mission and his life was cut short by fatal shots reported to be fired by Newt Knight. Maj. McLemore died in the home of State Representative Amos Deason's home in Ellisville, Mississippi, surrounded by his officers and good friends. Newt Knight was said to have have confessed his complicity in the crime to his son, Thomas Jefferson Knight. In a much later interview with Meigs Frost, he stated that "We stayed out in the woods minding our own business until the Confederate Army began sending raiders after us like bloodhounds...then we saw we had to fight." No individual, however, was ever charged with McLemore's murder, and no one was prosecuted, no official justice ever rendered. Newt Knight died as an old man of ninety-two years of age in 1922.

His Tombstone reads: "Major Amos McLemore, 27th Regt. Miss. Volunteers, C.S.A. Born Aug. 23, 1823, Assassinated while in the discharge of his duties as a Soldier, Sept 14, 1863. He was a bright Mason, a devoted Confederate Soldier, and a M.E. Minister." An inscription on the base of the marker reads "By Leaf River Lodge No. 19, A.F. and A. Mason."

A government issue flat confederate marker is also located at the foot of his grave. The date of death on the tombstone contradicts the one found in his official military records, and is therefore assumed to be incorrect. The date of birth also is about four years earlier than census records would indicate. It appears he may have actually been born in August 1827.

(Research):
Census Information:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Jones County
Enumerated 20 August 1850 by G. B. Harvey
62-62
Amos McLemore 23 M School Teacher Miss
Rosie McLemore 21 F Miss

1860 Census
Mississippi, Jones County, Page 21 P.O. Ellisville
Amos McLemore 34 M Miss Merchant
R.V. McLemore 25 F Miss
S.R. McLemore 9 F Miss
John C.C. McLemore 7 M Miss
Jane McLemore 4 F Miss
R. McLemore 3 F Miss
Bud McLemore 6/12 M Miss
(Transcription courtesy of Everett Hammond)

Amos married Rosa Lavinia McLemore about 1850. Rosa (daughter of Josiah McLemore and Sarah Jane Fairchild) was born about 1831 in Jones County, Mississippi; died about 1900 in Perry County, Mississippi; was buried in McLemore Cemetery, Forrest County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When her husband was killed in 1863, Rosa was left with five children, all under the age of 12. She never remarried and remained focused on her family's survival during the desperate times of the Reconstruction. After the war she moved her family to Copiah County, MS and engaged in land speculation with her brother, John Thomas McLemore. By 1878 she had moved her family back to Perry County. The 1880 US Census lists Rosa with all her children living in the same household except daughter Sebelle R who had married Abraham L. FAIRCHILD. Here in Perry (now Forrest) County, Rosa lived out her life until she died believed to be after 1900 on the old John McLemore property and was buried in the family cemetery. (Hammond, "MAJOR AMOS McLEMORE", p. 2).

(Research):Census Information:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Jones County
Enumerated 20 August 1850 by G. B. Harvey
62-62
Amos McLemore 23 M School Teacher Miss
Rosie McLemore 21 F Miss

1860 Census
Mississippi, Jones County, Page 21 P.O. Ellisville
Amos McLemore 34 M Miss Merchant
R.V. McLemore 25 F Miss
S.R. McLemore 9 F Miss
John C.C. McLemore 7 M Miss
Jane McLemore 4 F Miss
R. McLemore 3 F Miss
Bud McLemore 6/12 M Miss

1870 Census
Mississippi, Copiah County, Page 181 & 181B-P.O. Hazelhurst
Luvenia McLemore 42 Miss Keeping House
Sebel McLemore 18 M (sic) Miss Works on Farm
John C. McLemore 16 M Miss Works on Farm
Anna McLemore 15 M (sic) Miss Works on Farm
Walter McLemore 9 M Miss
(NOTE: She was living next door to Joseph (65) and Sarah (7
0) McLemore; Perhaps her Parents? with Josiah incorrectly transcribed as Joseph?)

1880 Census
Mississippi, Perry County, Page 327B
Rosa V. McLemore Self F Wd W 48 Miss SC Miss
John McLemore Son M S W 26 Miss Miss Miss
Anna J. McLemore Dau F S W 24 Miss Miss Miss
Rosa V. McLemore Dau F S W 22 Miss Miss Miss
Walter McLemroe Son M S W 19 Miss Miss Miss


(Transcription courtesy of Everett Hammond)

Notes:

From his first years in Perry county, John McLemore paid taxes on 560 acres of land, up to 40 head of cattle, three slaves and a ferry which he operated on the Leaf River. At the time of his death, his large estate was divided among his heirs. His wife and daughter Elmyra shared about 880 acres between them. It is unknown what the other children received. (Hammond, MAJOR AMOS McLEMORE, p. 1).

(Research):Census Information:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Perry County
Enumerated the 20th September 1850 by James Carpenter
84-84
John McLemore, 57 M Farmer 1500 S.C.
Anna McLemore 46 F NC
Abraham McLemore 19 M Farmer Miss.

John married Anna Maria Yates about 1820 in Giles County, Tennessee. Anna was born about 1804 in North Carolina; died about 1875 in Perry County, Mississippi; was buried in McLemore Cemetery, Forrest County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Abraham YATES and Katherine HUNTER.

At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, she was listed in the Southern District of Perry County, Mississippi, as all alone in her household, age 47, born in North Carolina, with $1,000 in real property and $2,600 in personal property

Notes:

Merritt Mullen and others variously report his location of birth as North Carolina or Tennessee. He might have instead been born in South Carolina, as this is what is reported on the 1860 census.

(Research):
Census Information:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Perry County
Enumerated 27 Sept 1850
Stamped 379
126-126
Joseph McLamore 46 M Farmer Miss
Sarah McLamore 49 F ???
Nancy McLamore 18 F S.C.
Joseph McLamore 16 M Miss
Susan McLamore 14 F Miss
Elizabeth Kilgue/Kilgore? 5 F Miss
John McLamore 13 M Miss

1860 Census
Mississippi, Perry County, Southern District
Enumerated 15 Sep 1860 by Henry E. Lee
294-282
Josiah McLemore 58 M Farmer $500 $300 SC
Sarah McLemore 59 F SC
Susan McLemore 23 F Mi
John McLemore 22 M Waggoner Mi
Layfett Lee 8 M Mi
John Lee 3 M Mi

It appears that Lafayette and John LEE are stepsons of Josiah, born to his second wife.

Josiah married Sarah Jane Fairchild about 1822 in Mississippi. Sarah was born about 1804 in South Carolina; died after 1870 in Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Merritt Mullen shows her as the daughter of Robert FAIRCHILD and Nancy TAYLOR. He also notes that she may have been born in Georgia instead of South Carolina.

Notes:

Married:
Merritt Mullen instead shows their marriage as occuring ca 1825.

Notes:

James L. McLemore, the author, and Mark Freeman both show that Amos was a son of Moses McLemore and grandson of Wright McLemore. However, another researcher, Jim White, does not think Amos descended from the Wright McLemore family. In January, 2009, he posted to Mark Freeman's McLemore online tree:

"Check the 1820 Giles County Tennessee Census and explain who Burwell and John McLemore are on that census..... Someone missed a necessary fact somewhere...Amos and his family did not descend of any Wright McLemore."

Some researchers also show them as the parents of Lavina, Matthew and Louisa.

Larry Kingsley is one such researcher. He shows that Lavina married John J. JOHNSTON, and that they had a large family.





(Research):
Census Information:

1790 Census
South Carolina, Cheraws District, St. Thomas

Amos McLemore 1-2-1

One Free White Male of 16 and Upwards: Amos
Two Free White Males under 16: Moses, Unknown Son
One Free White Female: Equilla

Amos married Equilla ??? between 1785 and 1787. Equilla was born between 1760 and 1762 in North Carolina; died after 1860 in Mississippi; was buried in McLemore Cemetery, Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mark Freeman's notes for Equilla Byler http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~markfreeman/mclemore.html

Her surname, often repeated, is not certain. May be Aquilla Bierly.

She is also called Aquilla Byler, or Equilla Tiner (1850 census, listed as 90 years old; 1860 census, 98 years). She likely married 2nd Mr. Tiner.

Abraham & Jacob, were neighbors of the McLemores in Bedford & Giles Co. TN. When Amos McLemore bought land in Giles Co. in 1812, Abraham Byler, Jr. was one of the chain bearers for the survey. When Amos sold land there in 1816, Jacob Byler was a witness to the sale.

Byler is often described as a Swiss name, descendants of the Beiler family that immigrated from Bern, Switzerland to Pennsylvania. One family was that of Jacob Franklin Byler, born about 1765 in Pennsylvania - went with his parents to (now Rowan Co.) North Carolina where he later married Bathsheba Oxford, daughter of Samuel Oxford and Bathsheba Barrett.

Samuel Oxford's wife Bathsheba Barrett was the daughter of Jonathan Barrett (Perrot) and Jar Fly Jarman, said to have been a full blood Catawba Indian.

Some of the descendants of this family went through Tennessee. There is not a known link to this Equilla Byler. A lot of info is available on the Byler family.

When Amos McLemore bought land in Giles Co. in 1812, Abraham Byler, Jr. was one of the chain bearers for the survey. When Amos sold land there in 1816, Jacob Byler was a witness to the sale. It is possible that the surname for Equilla / Aquilla was taken from this, and not a marriage record.

A two page document entitled "McLemore History" by Rueben McLemore, Jr." states that when Richard McLemore "came to Lauderdale county he brought with him an old relation, a Mrs. Tiner. When she died he buried her behind the church he had built. One after another his family was added to the same plot until, after some time, the McLemore Cemetery was instituted and given to the usage of the public." The McLemore Cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is located at the corner of Sixth Street and Tenth Avenue. Others buried there include victims of the 1871 riot and the 1878 yellow fever epidemic.