Frances Levina Travis

Family/Spouse: Valentine T. Kelley. Valentine (son of Elijah Kelley and Nancy Shepherd) was born before 1871; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hattie L. Kelley was born on 7 Jul 1890 in Texas; and died.
2. William M. Kelley was born in Aug 1892 in Texas; and died.
3. Valentine Kelley, Jr. was born on 18 Feb 1896 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 28 Nov 1964 in Sabine County, Texas.
4. Oscar Lafate Kelley was born on 16 Sep 1901 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 25 Aug 1980 in Jasper, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery, Bland Lake, San Augustine County, Texas.

Notes:

He was known by his middle name, Cannon. He may have been married previously to an Elizabeth, also from Mississippi.

According to the MINUTES 1858-1890 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HEMPHILL, TEXAS, (James) Cannon and Sophronia (White) Travis were among the 11 founding members of the church. Sophronia was admitted by voucher on September 7, 1857 from W. C. Southwell, Missionary East Texas, as was her husband, Cannon Travis. Fellowship was withdrawn from Cannon Travis on November 10, 1860, and restored September 24, 1864. In June 1884, "charges having been preferred against Bro. Cannon Travis for unchristian conduct & said charges as alleged being Sustained, it was ordered that the Church withdraw fellowship from him & it is further ordered that his name be erased from the Church Book."

Note: Children's names and birthdates are based on a transcription of the 1870 census. The actual 1870 and 1880 census microfilm's should be carefully checked. The 1880 extract seems to have several glaring discrencies in names and dates. Blanche Toole speculates that perhaps the census taker knew Cannon and his family, and completed the information from (faulty) memory instead of by actually interviewing the family. Also, Charlie White lists a child named Jann White, born ca 1868 per the 1870 census who is not listed on either transcription of the census. Perhaps this is Martha Jane White.

Military Service Co. D 1 Tex HV Arty CSA (Courtesy of Tony Pickett)

Was shown on the muster roll of Captain J.M. Burroughs Company of the Sabine County Volunteer Infantry, CSA, and was enlisted at Hemphill, Texas by Drury Field for 3 months duty on January 15, 1863.

Jules Hurst writes that "I understand that Cannon died in Texas of cancer of the eye."

James married Sophronia Pauline White on 5 Dec 1850 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Sophronia (daughter of Edward White and Elizabeth Strickland) was born in Nov 1833 in Amite County, Mississippi; died on 15 Jun 1915 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sophronia was born during an auspicious month. On November 13, 1833, between midnight and dawn, thousands of meteors showered the sky over North America. To the native peoples of the land, it appeared that the stars were falling out of the heavens. Some thought it was the judgment day. Others called it "The Night the Stars Fell".

A young girl who was a slave at the time of the event said "Somebody in the quarters started yellin' in the middle of the night to come out and to look up at the sky. We went outside and there they was a fallin' everywhere! Big stars coming down real close to the groun' and just before they hit the ground they would burn up! We was all scared. Some O'the folks was screamin' and some was prayin' we all made so much noise, the white folk came out to see what was happenin'. They looked up and then they got scared too."

The celestial phenomenon called "the most impressive and awesome display ever recorded" was, in fact, the Leonids meteor shower seen in one of its most impressive years. Viewers witnessed 50,000 to 150,000 meteors per hour, only equaled by the November 17, 1966 display, when the Leonid shower brought 150,000 meteors per hour. Debris from the comet Temple-Tuttle that orbits the sun every 33 years causes the shower.

She was born and raised in Amite County, Mississippi, and can be found on the 1850 census with her parents. Sometime after that, the family moved to Sabine County, Texas.

After her husband's death, she lived with her oldest son, William Hardy Travis. She can be found living with he and his wife, Grace Ener, at the time of the 1900 and 1910 Sabine County census.

Notes:

Sometimes shown as William Barrett Travis

From the JERUSALEM CHURCH CHURCH BOOK, Mississippi Territory of Amit e, 29 Feb 1812

This church was located near the present town of Gillsburg. Organized 29 Feb 1812, when Mississippi was Indian Territory. The transcription is courtesy of Mrs. Alva McEwen, McComb, Mississippi.

Feb 1825: William Travis by experience May 1825: John Travis, Nancy Travis by experience Apr 1827: Brother and Sister Travis restored Jan 1829: Brother and Sister Travis reported for non-attendance Mar 1829: Brother and Sister Travis excluded July 1841: William Travis restored. William and Nancy Travis, letter of dismission. Apr 1842: Members included: Elizabeth White, Emily and Patsy Strickland, Rutha White, Henry Strickland, Elizabeth White (dec'd), Polly (Mary) Travis, William Travis, Nancy Travis, John Travis, John Travis, Sr., Nancy Travis, Mary Travis

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Louisiana, St. Helena Parish, Eastern District
Enumerated 24 July 1850
Page 178
21-21
William Travis 50 M Farmer $500 Miss
Sabrina Travis 23 F La
Cannon Travis 22 M Farmer Miss
Polean Travis 17 F Miss
Decalb Travis 15 M Miss
Wm Travis 7 M La
Winna Travis 4 F La
Rebecca Carroll 22 F La
Henry Carroll 19 M Farmer La

1860 Census
Lousiana, St. Helena Parish
Enumerated 22 Jun 1860
Page 26
234-234
Wm Travis 62 M Farmer 1800 500 S. Carolina
Sabrina Travis 32 F La
William Travis 15 M La
Wineford Travis 12 F La
Alice Travis 6 F La
Izabell Travis 1/12 F La
Henry Wagoner 15 M La

William married Nancy B. Hurst on 8 Oct 1817 in Liberty, Amite County, Mississippi. Nancy was born about 1798 in Northumberland County, Virginia; died on 1 Nov 1842 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Henry Hurst.

Notes:

Married:
Jules Hurst, a descendant, also reported that William and Nancy (Hurst) Travis had "twin girls said to have been killed by lightning--names unknown to me."

Notes:

There is an Ed White in Pike County, Mississippi in 1820. This may or may not be the same Edward White that is located in Amite County, Mississippi 10 years later. The family composition is 3 males under the age of 10, 1 male between 10-16, two males between 26 and 45, two females under the age of 10, and one female age 26 to 45.

On the 1830 Amite County, Mississippi census, Edward White and wife had 3 boys & 3 girls, 0-9, 1 boy and 1 girl 10-19. He was between the ages of 40 to 60 and his wife was between 20 and 40.

He was still in Amite County in 1840, on page 52. The microfilm at the San Antonio Public Library was faded and difficult to read. It appeared to show the following, however< Edward White Males 1-0-2-0-0-0-0-1 Females0-2-0-2-0-0-1-0 He appears to have held at least two female slaves, one under the age of five, and the other between five and ten. The number of male slaves is difficult to read. It is probably just one.

Edward White, his wife Elizabeth, and several of his children can be found in Amite County, Mississippi on the 1850 census as well. Sometime after this enumeration, they moved to Sabine County, Texas.

In White and Toole's book, Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records it was noted hat "Later that year (ca. 1843-sic), the Edward White family...and many of their friends and relatives came to Sabine County. Some forty or fifty covered wagons, some of them drawn by oxen, travelled together." From "Sabine County Historical Sketches And Genealogical Records."

Edward White is shown on various internet trees, most unsourced, as either the son of William White and Mary Matilda Mason of Mecklenberg, Virginia or as the son of Edward White and Pembrook Singleton of Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. In neither case has documentary evidence been shown. Mildred Bell Landers emailed that she had "heard from a ggg grandson of Edward White (through his daughter who married Cannon Travis), and he asked if I had ever heard that Edward was an Indian named Whitecloud or Whitefeather, like his father, William. I had never heard this, and in Sabine County the past is closer than elsewhere. Nor had I heard that Edward White's father was William. One of my other gg grandfathers was part Indian, and this seems to be known in Sabine County, at least by descendants. Ever heard of any of this? There was a picture of an Edward White, Civil War veteran, in an issue of the Sabine County Reporter (maybe a son or grandson) and he did not appear to be part Indian. In my mother's family, some of them had characteristics that could be considered Indian."

Jack Hutchins White emailed, in August 2013, that his White ancestor was "Cajabeth White, who was living in Bute Co, NC with his brother, William, as early as 1766. He had two sons, John and Robert. John White inherited land from a man named John Seagrove, whose will names John White as his nephew. It seems likely that Cajabeth's wife, Frances, was a Seagrove, but this is not proven. The 1771 tax list for Bute Co shows that Young McLemore....had an overseer named John Seagrove, who appears on a number of documents with members of the McLemore family before they migrated out of Bute (later Warren) Co. I have been trying for a couple of years to piece together precisely how the Seagrove, McLemore and White families may have interacted with one another, but the Seagrove family history is as complicated as that of the Whites.

The thing that interests me about your website is that Cajabeth White was frequently referred to in court documents as Cade, and I see in your website that two sons of Edward White (b. 1781 in Mecklenburg Co, VA) each had sons they named Cade.

I believe it is likely that the Edward White in your website is the son of William White Sr. of Mecklenburg Co, VA. The personal property tax lists for that county show a son of William named Edward who is first listed as a taxable adult in the household of his father in 1797 and as head of his own household in 1800. He is gone from the county by 1801.




I am researching the possibility that William White Sr. was the brother of Cajabeth "Cade" White named in the 1766 tax rolls for Bute Co. The fact that the name Cade appears twice among the grandchildren of Edward White seems to support this theory.

I am still a bit fuzzy on when this White line intermarries with the Strong and McLemore families. I am hoping one of your family researchers would be willing to collaborate with me on the foregoing topics. I have copied Lisa Lisson, a White family descendant, who is assisting in this research."

(Research):
Census Listings:

CENSUS YR: 1850
STATE or TERRITORY: MS
COUNTY: Amite REEL NO: M432-368
PAGE NO: 93A
REFERENCE: Enumerated 12 Dec 1850 by Henry Flowe
23 615 615 White Edward 69 M Farmer 750 Va
24 615 615 White Elizabeth 55 F Geo 25
615 615 White Jane E. 25 F Amite Co Miss (Widow of J.H. Wente---I believe she is actually listed as Went on the microfilm)
26 615 615 White S. P. 17 F Amite Co Miss
27 615 615 White Wm. T. 12 M Amite Co Miss
28 615 615 Went Elizabeth 7 F Amite Co Miss
29 615 615 Went John E. 6 M Amite Co Miss
30 615 615 Went Jane E. 4 F Amite Co Miss
31 615 615 Went James T. 1 M Amite Co Miss

On the 1860 Sabine County, Texas census, Edward and Elizabeth (age 79 and 66) were living with 11 year old L.E. White, a female born in Texas. Edward's real property was valued at $500 and he had personal property valued at $7,943. I speculate that L.E. White might actually be M.E. White, Mary Elizabeth Sophronia White, the oldest daughter of James and Drucilla White. James died prior to 1860, and his wife remarried John C. Partin. James and Drucilla's two younger daughters are listed with Drucilla and her new husband, but their oldest daughter, born circa 1848/1849, has disappeared. It could be that this oldest daughter died. Or it could be that the oldest daughter went to live with and/or care for her elderly grandparents. Additionally, the 11 year old L.E. White does not seem to fit into any other of the White families shown on the 1850 census, nor can she be found after 1860.

Edward married Elizabeth Strickland after 1809 in Elbert County, Georgia. Elizabeth (daughter of Henry Strickland and Ruth Thompson) was born about 1795 in Elbert County, Georgia; died on 25 Dec 1864 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Travis Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the JERUSALEM CHURCH CHURCH BOOK, Mississippi Territory of Amite, 29 Feb 1812

This church was located near the present town of Gillsburg. Organized 29 Feb 1812, when Mississippi was Indian Territory. The transcription is courtesy of Mrs. Alva McEwen, McComb, Mississippi.

Nov 1836: Received by experience, Elizabeth White Oct 1837: Elizabeth White, Pernecia Travis baptized Apr 1842: Members included: Elizabeth White, Emily and Patsy Strickland, Rutha White, Henry Strickland, Elizabeth White (dec'd), Polly (Mary) Travis, William Travis, Nancy Travis, John Travis, John Travis, Sr., Nancy Travis, Mary Travis

Elizabeth Strickland White and 10 others founded the regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ on the banks of the Housen Bayou on May 29, 1858. This later became known as the First Baptist Church of Hemphill. Elizabeth joined by letter from the Jerusalem Church in Amite County, Mississippi. The other founding members were Richard and Ruth Travis, Henry S and Mary Etta White, Simon and Mary Ann Beckcom, John and Sophronia Everett, and Cannon and Sophronia Travis.

Elizabeth's husband, Edward, did not become a member of this church, founded by his wife and several of his children, until over six years had passed. He then joined on a profession of faith and Baptism in June 1864. According to the minutes of June 25, 1864, "Confarence was adjorned for the Church to meete at Father E Whites at 4 oclock for the purpos of hearing what the Lord had don for his precious sole, after hearing of his Experiance it was moved that Father E White be Received in Christian fellowship."

This experience must have caused him to evangelize, because on July 23d, 1865, "after preching, the privelege of the Church was Extended when too Servint Girls came forward, Amy belongin to Edward White & Charitee also belonging to Edward White. after hearing ther Experience was Received the church and then adjorned to the water" By September, 1865, Father E. White was Moderator of the Conference, though it appears he gave up this reponsibility quickly. He was replaced by Pastor John L Mills in October of 1865. His faith apparently never wavered as it was noted that he "Dyed Jan 13th 1871 in the Faith."

Notes:

Married:
Bears and Panthers and Sabine County Women

This story from the 1800s, as told by the master storyteller, J.Frank Dobie, gives another reason not to mess with Sabine County women:

"One winter day the White family on Bear Creek in Sabine County killed a hog, cut it up, put the meat in a wooden tub, and set it in a corner of the cabin, to be salted down and smoked on the morrow.

Then the man went off with his dogs to join the neighbor on a hunt.

That night while Mrs. White was chunking up the fire in the fireplace, the children covered up in bed and a quilt wrapped around herself to shut out the cold norther blowing through the chinks in the log walls, she heard a panther scream.

She knew it had smelled the fresh meat. It prowled under the puncheon floor and then leaped up on the roof, every once in a while letting out a scream. Then it went to clawing on the logs and finally got a paw through a crack near the tub of meat and took out a piece.

At this, Mrs. White threw her quilt over the tub, seized an axe standing just inside the door, and waited.

In a little while the panther put its paw back through the crack for another piece of meat. She had the axe raised and now she came down with it, cutting the paw clean off.
That panther did not bother around the cabin any more that night."

----- J. Frank Dobie, "Tales of Old-Time Texas"

Posted by Ronad Barlow on his Facebook group, Farm Road 1 - From one end to the other. It is not known which Mrs. White this story relates to.

Notes:

Jules Hurst emailed on 20 Sept 2000 that "John D. Travis came to Amite Co, Mississippi in 1807 from Edgefield District South Carolina with his wife Isabella Graham and his two spinster sisters, Patsy and Cecelia....John D. Travis was William Barrett Travis (of Alamo fame) great uncle. It is said that William Barrett stopped in Amite County and visited with John D. on his way to the Alamo. John D was a brother to Colonel Wm. Barrett's grandfather."

John married Isabelle Graham in 1786 in Burges Creek, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Isabelle was born in 1768 in South Carolina; died in 1838 in Amite County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to be a daughter of Dominick GRAHAM and Isabelle CANNON. Jesse Marion Travis, Jr. of Sabine County, Texas shows her instead as Isabelle CANNON.

Notes:

In the notes of Tony Pickett, he cites "Ancestors and Descendants of Robert Easley, Sr,., and Elizabeth Earle Elkins of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana" by Austin Beverly Smith, et al (1993). Page 6 indicates that Henry Strickland donated the first land to build a church in St. Helena Parish, now called the New Zion Baptist Church. The eight children of Henry Strickland and Ruth Thompson were listed as Hardy Strickland, Lt. Ancil B. Strickland, Cade Drew Strickland, Sr, Thomas C. Strickland, Elizabeth Strickland, James Robert Strickland, Nancy Strickland, and Willis H. Strickland. The book further noted that when Henry Strickland married Ruth Thompson, Daughter of Alexander Thompson (RWS) in 1787, whe was disowned by her father. Apparently he eventually accepted the marriage, as he deeded Henry Strickland land in 1802.

According to the STRICKLAND SCENE Vol 7, No 3, pp 45-46, the following deed was located on microfilm at the Georgia Department of Archives & History.

ELBERT COUNTY GA DEED BOOK N, p 5:

This indenture made the twenty first day of June one Thousand Eight Hundred and Two, and in the twenty sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America Between Alexander Thompson Senr. of the State of Georgia and County of Elbert of the one part, and HENRY STRICKLAND of the County of Franklin and state aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth that the Said Thompson for and in consideration of the sum of three Hundred and Fifty dollars to him in had paid to the Said Thompson by the Said Strickland on or before the Sealing and delivering of these presents the recept he doth hereby acknowledge. Hath bargained Sold and Delivered in fee simple all that Tract of Land Containing four hundred and four acres being a part of a tract of four hundred and Eighty acres Surveyed for him in the year eighty six on the twentieth of February, then Wilkes county, granted in the year Eighty Seven on the twenty Seventh of September, beginning on a Hickory thence runing S. 80 E 75 ch. To a black oak & Thence running S_____W 45 chains thence to Acocks line Post oak & thence along the Said line S. 10 W. 64 Chs. Which said tract the said Strickland and his heirs the Said Thompson Doth Warrant and defed th heirs in & to the Said land and premises. In witness whereof the Said Thompson hath herunto set his hand and Seal of the day and year above mentioned, Signed Sealed and delivered in the presents of

Alexander Thompson


Test. David Radison (Roberson)
Alexander Thompson



The following query was posted (by mwise@prodigy.net) to the Strickland-L@rootsweb.com: "In the probate records of Madison Co, GA 1816-1841 Thompson C. Strickland and Cade D. Strickland were administering the estate of A.B. Strickland (in another place Ansel B. Strickland) from 1814-1824 James R. or P. Strickland bought property from the estate in 1814 (from) H. Strickland, Isaac Strickland, Willis H. Strickland. Who is this? And how does he related to Solomon Strickland of Madison Co?" Rocky Strickland (RockyIII@aol.com) replied that his undocumented records show "that Ancil B. Strickland, Thompson C. Strickland, and Cade D. Strickland were brothers and three of eight children of Henry Strickland and Ruth Thompson. They were grandsons the Solomon Strickland who was born 1735 in Nash County, North Carolina, and died 1818 in Madison County, Georgia."

His FindAGrave memorial page (ID 98340873) states notes his probably burial place was the Lystra Primative Baptist Church Cemetery in Comer, Madison Co, GA, as his parents were charter members and his mother was buried at this church two yeas before Henry's death.

It further shows the St. Helena Parish, Louisiana census from 1820 as follows:

1820 census, St Helena,? Louisiana
Widow Stricklin 0-1-0-1-0-0 2-1-2-0-1 - Elizabeth Gurley
One female over 45; b. by 1775
One male 18-25; b. 1795-1802
Two females 16-25; b. 1795-1804
One male 10-15; b. 1805-1810
One female 10-15; b. 1805-1810
Two females under 10; b. 1810-1820

According to researcher Kenneth Landry Schaefer, the "Widow Stricklin" listed on the 1820 census was not Ruth, but Elizabeth Gurley of Johnson Co., NC, daughter of Robert Gurley and widow of a Jeremiah Strickland, as shown by probate papers. It's likely then that Ruth was living with one of her children or other relative in 1820:

Henry married Ruth Thompson about 1787 in Georgia. Ruth (daughter of Alexander Thompson, Sr. and Elizabeth Hodge) was born about 1763; died about 1860 in Greensburg, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SUCCESSION RECORDS OF ST.HELENA PARISH, LOUISIANA 1804-1854,
E. Russ Williams, Jr., c1966, p. 31 NOTE (Patricia Ezell): In LA, Succession Records are the equivalent of Probate Records.

Ruth Thompson, dgt. of Alexander Thompson and Elizabeth Hodge of Elbert Co. GA, married about 1787 to Henry Strickland, b. 1766, N.C., d. Madison County, GA Feb 1817. Henry was the son of Solomon Strickland and Amy Pace.

In the 1820 census of St. Helena Parish, LA., Ruth Stricklin appears as a widow over 45 yrs of age, has 1 boy age 18-25, 2 girls 16-25, 1 boy and 1 girl 10-15 yrs of age.

On 10 Apr 1823, Ruth Strickling married Benjamin Bagley in Amite County, MS.

On 29 Oct 1824, Benjamin Bagley and wife, sold to Elizabeth White, chattel (probably a slave) in Amite County, MS. Conveyance Book I, page 2, p.68.

On 28 Sep 1826, Benjamin Bagley sold to K. & R. Strickland in Amite County, land Conveyance Book 2, p.172

Benjamin Bagley had probably been married before his marriage to Ruth as he appears in the 1810 Amite County census with a family. He received a land grant in Amite County on 21 Dec 1811, Township 3 North, Range 13 East, Section 24, 505 acres. He received another land grant in Amite County, MS. on 15 Oct 1816, Township 3North Range 6 East. This 2nd land grant was assigned to Josiah Powell on 1 July 1827 which may be a sign that Benjamin and Ruth moved.... or it could just be that he sold the land.--(Patricia Ezell)

The BAGLEY family does not appear in the 1850 census for Amite, Wilkinson, or Franklin Counties, MS, nor do they appear in the 1850 census for St.Helena, East or West Feliciana.
A number of the STRICKLAND children were in the 1850 St.Helena Parish census: Cade, James and Willis (at least).
There is no succession record for Ruth Thompson, Ruth Stricklin, or Ruth Bagley in the St.Helena Parish records.
One curious thing is how did Ruth Thompson from GA to MS? With whom did she come? Henry Stricklin died in 1817 in Madison County, GA. (at least according to Albert Casey's book, AMITE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI AND ITS ENVIRONS, p. 589. It's probably that she came with some of her adult children who had already married while still living in GA., i.e. , like Elizabeth STRICKLAND who married Edward WHITE about 1814 in Elbert County, GA, Nancy STRICKLAND who married Grant Rice TAYLOR in Madison Co. GA on 19 Sep 1818, Willis H. STRICKLAND who married Amy in 1816 in Madison Co.GA (this family went to Tangipahoa LA where he founded Tangipahoa Baptist Church).