In progress.
Attempting to document the known facts about Francis Gholson who died in Russellville, AL in 1849.
Born Jun 9, 1787 and died 5 Nov 1849 (from his gravestone)
I believe his gravestone says he came from Botetourt Co., VA?
"Personal slave" Abishai Gholson (and wife) buried next to him.
Listed as a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County, 1820 --200 Years at Muscle Shoals
August 1824 -- Appeared in orphan's cort, Franklin Co. AL. Francis Gholson and Joseph Jame--- vs. the Heirs of Margaret ---son, deceased (scan of this page is incomplete; the missing name is likely Jameson in both cases.).
1827 Divorce case (what does this mean?):
Mr. Sargent presented the record and proceedings of the circuit court of Franklin county, exercising chancery jurisdiction in the case of Jane Gholson against John Gholson, Francis Gholson, and Joseph Jamison, for divorce; which was read and referred to the committee on divorce and alimony. --http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/history/acts_and_journals/1827/house-journal/Nov_29.html
1830, 1840 census, residence in Franklin County AL.
http://acumen.lib.ua.edu/u0003/0000555/9730537
Gholson Genealogy compiled by James M. Black
in the Pauline Gandrud Papers at the U. of Alabama
"Francis Gholson, probably a son of William Gholson who was in Madison Co, Ky in 1800....Francis Gholson was ...married on May 25, 1807 to Susanna Brown."
This document lists children
General Samuel Jameson Gholson (b. 1808 Madison Co. KY)
Mary A. Gholson m. Oran Sargent
William J. Gholson
Milton Gholson
6 others, names not known.
"Golsan...Gholston Families" book:
"probably a son of William Gholson who was in Madison Co. KY in 1800"
This information matches what is in the Ganrud papers.
A letter from James M. Black to Harvey G. Williams (1983) explains that the marriage record said Susanna Jameson with a line through the surname. Mr. Black explains that he put "Brown" in the book but that it should have been Jameson. Along with this, he presents the consent note from Samuel Jameson giving permission for the marriage of his daughter to Francis Gholson.
Also, a consent note from Mary Gholson permitting her son Francis to marry Susanna Jameson. "This confirms the connections of Francis Gholson with his parents William Gholson Jr. and Mary Cross".
If Susanna Brown==Susanna Jameson, that ties Francis to Kentucky. William Gholson II (1760-1843) was in Madison Co. Kentucky in 1800 so could be Francis' father.
General Samuel Jameson Gholson (CSA) was a cousin of William Yates Gholson of Virginia (son of Va. Congressman Thomas Gholson) and of Thomas Saunders Gholson (son of Maj. William Gholson) --Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography v. 2
I have a DNA match with the line Anthony (1695-1764) of Orange Co VA, William (1705-1795), Anthony (1733-1815 KY).
Other Francis Gholsons.
The Francis Gholson in IL was b. 1756 VA, d. 1825, son of Anthony and Elizabeth.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
German Community at Valhermoso Springs
Why did August Rump come to north Alabama? He arrived in America in 1867 (according to later census), probably in New York as he was a sailor on the Norddeutscher Lloyd line which regularly sailed there (documented!). According to family legend, he shot the captain of the ship who was either stealing from the stores, or "testing the guards", and had to flee.
His wife and children followed, arriving in New York in 1868 (documented on passenger list). But by July 1870 they were living in Valhermoso Springs, Morgan County, Alabama.
This page mentions a Mr. Moebes who left his native Germany and started a colony of Germans in North Alabama. Two things in the story are possibly related to the history of the Rump family. First is the way Mr. Moebes left Germany.
Could this be the origin of our family legend? August Rump went to a colony founded by a German who had killed a man on a boat. And that got turned into him killing a man on a boat?
The second thing I noticed was in the description of Moebes looking for people to join him in Alabama while wandering around New York City.
“I had been out on the pavement by day and night to look for any kind of work until my legs nearly broke down because of fatigue and exhaustion, when I heard a chaotic mixture of voices sound out of a German beer bar and saw in the bar a lot of Germans from the lower classes … like joiners, shoemakers, tailors, bartenders, brick-layers, and all kinds of craftsmen who wanted to follow an advertisement from the South to acquire cheap land to become farmers.
There was no head and no tail to the whole clan, and since I had read a lot about the South and its conditions, especially like sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and cotton, I asked to speak, and in a short amount of time I convinced the people that I knew the Southern conditions excellently and that I’d be the right Moses to lead them to the promised land."
It is certainly possible that August Rump was in this crowd of German workers and craftsmen, trying to figure out where to go, when Mr. Moebes showed up with the promise of leading them to a land where they could become farmers. If not, he must have heard about it through word of mouth or maybe a printed advertisement. But he must have had some reason to go from New York in 1868 to Valhermoso Springs, Alabama in 1870. And in 1870 he is living within a few houses of Joseph Giers, who was president of the colony.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17086364/north-alabama-the-german-settlement/
His wife and children followed, arriving in New York in 1868 (documented on passenger list). But by July 1870 they were living in Valhermoso Springs, Morgan County, Alabama.
This page mentions a Mr. Moebes who left his native Germany and started a colony of Germans in North Alabama. Two things in the story are possibly related to the history of the Rump family. First is the way Mr. Moebes left Germany.
Family tradition has it that the friend, having had too much to drink, was rocking the boat in which he and young Otto were rowing girl friends. Otto demanded that he refrain from splashing the young ladies, and angry words led to a duel. “Grandpa Moebes” was prepared to shoot to the side, but when he turned to face his opponent, he saw the pistol aimed directly at him. He took quick aim, killed the hapless fellow, and arrived in New York on the lam in April, 1868.
Could this be the origin of our family legend? August Rump went to a colony founded by a German who had killed a man on a boat. And that got turned into him killing a man on a boat?
The second thing I noticed was in the description of Moebes looking for people to join him in Alabama while wandering around New York City.
“I had been out on the pavement by day and night to look for any kind of work until my legs nearly broke down because of fatigue and exhaustion, when I heard a chaotic mixture of voices sound out of a German beer bar and saw in the bar a lot of Germans from the lower classes … like joiners, shoemakers, tailors, bartenders, brick-layers, and all kinds of craftsmen who wanted to follow an advertisement from the South to acquire cheap land to become farmers.
There was no head and no tail to the whole clan, and since I had read a lot about the South and its conditions, especially like sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and cotton, I asked to speak, and in a short amount of time I convinced the people that I knew the Southern conditions excellently and that I’d be the right Moses to lead them to the promised land."
It is certainly possible that August Rump was in this crowd of German workers and craftsmen, trying to figure out where to go, when Mr. Moebes showed up with the promise of leading them to a land where they could become farmers. If not, he must have heard about it through word of mouth or maybe a printed advertisement. But he must have had some reason to go from New York in 1868 to Valhermoso Springs, Alabama in 1870. And in 1870 he is living within a few houses of Joseph Giers, who was president of the colony.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17086364/north-alabama-the-german-settlement/
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Theophilus Cockburn, Land Investor/Speculator
Around 1820, a great deal of land in Alabama was opened up for sale, after the forced removal of Native Americans from most of the state. Andrew Jackson was involved in the Indian Removal not only as president, but also as a military commander during the War of 1812/Creek War period. And while he was securing land for the expansion of the United States, he was also purchasing land and making money off of it. His associates John Coffee (well known early settler of Florence, and an officer who fought with Jackson [and my ancestor William Russell] at Horseshoe Bend) and James Jackson (prominent landowner in Alex Haley's Queen who lived at the Forks of Cypress) also were major land buyers. These events, which I learned about in the book Jacksonland, set the context for the early "settlement" of Alabama. (Quotation marks used because of course there were people living here already before that.)
Theophilus W. Cockburn was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina around 1790. In 1804, he married Winifed Hogan, granddaughter of Brigadier General James Hogan, a patriot who died as a POW in the siege of Charleston. He joined the Masonic lodge in Tarboro in 1812 and was listed as a member in 1819.
In 1818, lots were sold for a proposed new town called Marathon to be laid out at Melton's Bluff in Lawrence County. This was the site of a plantation which overlooked the Tennessee River and commanded a beautiful view. Theophilus W. Cockburn was one of the buyers, as were General Jackson and John Coffee. This town never was actually built.
Another proposed town was to be laid out at a place called York's Bluff, in what is now Sheffield. This project also did not see completion. One of the buyers there in 1820 was a Walter Cockburn.
It would appear the Walter and Theophilus are two different people. But Theophilus is known to have died before Dec. 9 of 1836, for an estate sale of his slaves was announced that day in the North Alabamian. (Theophilus is known from a family story passed down in multiple lines of the family to have died while on a business trip to Mobile. According to a granddaughter of James Smith Coburn, he died when his boat was caught in a sudden storm.) Also on 9 Dec. 1836, an estate sale of the late Walter Cockburn was held to sell the York's Bluff lots. So they could possibly be the same person (Theophilus Walter Cockburn), or they both died at the same time, which might mean they were brothers or close relatives who perished on the same business trip. The 1820 Franklin County census lists a Theop. A. W. Cockburn, and two lines later a Walter Cockburn, which seems to confirm that they are two different people. Could they be brothers? The will of George Cockburn (III) mentions Theophilus and 4 daughters but no Walter. But George III is also thought to possibly be the father of George Benton Cockburn, so maybe he did not name all his sons in his will.
In the 1820 census. Theophilus has a wife, 9 children, and 16 slaves. Walter has no wife, 6 children, and 8 slaves. "My" Theophilus only had 1 child born before 1820 that I know of (George Lemuel). So it is unknown who all these children were.
Interestingly, both Theophilus and Walter were involved in legal actions involving land deals. Theophilus's case even caused the attorney general to write a letter advising the US attorney on a course of action.
17 Jan 1821, Office of Attorney General U.S.
Theo. W. Cockburn is a purchaser of lands in Alabama. He is being sued for those lands in the state of Georgia. In the event of his eviction, he would have a fair claim for the purchase price. But the US cannot be a defendant. Instruct the DA to attend the defense in behalf of the US. --Wm. Wirt (US Attorney General)
July 13, 1832
Enacted by US Congress. President authorized to issue patents to Walter Cockburn for lots 29, 32, 67, and 33 at York Bluff, purchased by him at public sale.
Feb. 13, 1833. Journal of the Senate.
Mr. Moore [Gabriel Moore of Alabama] presents a petition of citizens of Franklin Co., AL, asking for relief of Walter Cockburn's balance owed for a quantity of public land. It was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Theophilus W. Cockburn was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina around 1790. In 1804, he married Winifed Hogan, granddaughter of Brigadier General James Hogan, a patriot who died as a POW in the siege of Charleston. He joined the Masonic lodge in Tarboro in 1812 and was listed as a member in 1819.
In 1818, lots were sold for a proposed new town called Marathon to be laid out at Melton's Bluff in Lawrence County. This was the site of a plantation which overlooked the Tennessee River and commanded a beautiful view. Theophilus W. Cockburn was one of the buyers, as were General Jackson and John Coffee. This town never was actually built.
Another proposed town was to be laid out at a place called York's Bluff, in what is now Sheffield. This project also did not see completion. One of the buyers there in 1820 was a Walter Cockburn.
It would appear the Walter and Theophilus are two different people. But Theophilus is known to have died before Dec. 9 of 1836, for an estate sale of his slaves was announced that day in the North Alabamian. (Theophilus is known from a family story passed down in multiple lines of the family to have died while on a business trip to Mobile. According to a granddaughter of James Smith Coburn, he died when his boat was caught in a sudden storm.) Also on 9 Dec. 1836, an estate sale of the late Walter Cockburn was held to sell the York's Bluff lots. So they could possibly be the same person (Theophilus Walter Cockburn), or they both died at the same time, which might mean they were brothers or close relatives who perished on the same business trip. The 1820 Franklin County census lists a Theop. A. W. Cockburn, and two lines later a Walter Cockburn, which seems to confirm that they are two different people. Could they be brothers? The will of George Cockburn (III) mentions Theophilus and 4 daughters but no Walter. But George III is also thought to possibly be the father of George Benton Cockburn, so maybe he did not name all his sons in his will.
In the 1820 census. Theophilus has a wife, 9 children, and 16 slaves. Walter has no wife, 6 children, and 8 slaves. "My" Theophilus only had 1 child born before 1820 that I know of (George Lemuel). So it is unknown who all these children were.
Interestingly, both Theophilus and Walter were involved in legal actions involving land deals. Theophilus's case even caused the attorney general to write a letter advising the US attorney on a course of action.
17 Jan 1821, Office of Attorney General U.S.
Theo. W. Cockburn is a purchaser of lands in Alabama. He is being sued for those lands in the state of Georgia. In the event of his eviction, he would have a fair claim for the purchase price. But the US cannot be a defendant. Instruct the DA to attend the defense in behalf of the US. --Wm. Wirt (US Attorney General)
July 13, 1832
Enacted by US Congress. President authorized to issue patents to Walter Cockburn for lots 29, 32, 67, and 33 at York Bluff, purchased by him at public sale.
Feb. 13, 1833. Journal of the Senate.
Mr. Moore [Gabriel Moore of Alabama] presents a petition of citizens of Franklin Co., AL, asking for relief of Walter Cockburn's balance owed for a quantity of public land. It was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Monday, April 6, 2020
The Oran and Mary Ann (Gholson) Sargent Family
Oran Sargent was born about 1812 in Tennessee and died 14 Mar 1868 in Franklin County, Alabama. His father was Temple Sargent (1781-1850) who came from North Carolina and was one of the original Alabama state legislators in 1819. Oran's mother was a daughter (some later sources name her Peggy) of Major William Russell, one of the first white settlers of Franklin County and the namesake of the city of Russellville. Russell had fought with Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston in the Creek Indian War (1814). Temple and Peggy had two children, Oran and Dorothy Ann (Dolly). After the death of Peggy (around 1820), Temple Sargent married Louisa Lester and had 9 other (known) children.
The Sargent line goes back to North Carolina and before that, New England. Distant relatives include famed American painter John Singer Sargent, and governor of the Mississippi Territory Winthrop Sargent.
Mary Ann Gholson was the daughter of Francis Gholson of Virginia and Susanna Jameson of Kentucky. Mary Ann was born in 1818. If the 1850 census birthplace of Alabama is correct, her family were among the first settlers. But a story (preserved in a 1960 letter from Minnie Mack) says that Mary Ann and Oran rode on horseback from Kentucky to Russell's Valley, Alabama, just after their marriage in Kentucky (about 1837).
Oran and Mary Ann had the following children:
1. Ann Sargent (b. 1838). Not much is known about her.
2. Susan L. Sargent (my ancestor) --------->
Married Capt. Thomas Ellett McCulloch, a Confederate Officer. Later a Justice of the Peace in Russellville, known for performing marriages (sometimes two at once), and a regular newspaper correspondent into his later years.
a. Margaret C. (1860-1901)
b. Estella (1861-1906)
c. Mary E. (1862-1913)
d. Julia (1868-1906)
e. John S. (1869-?)
f. Samuel Gholson (1871-1945)
g. Thomas O. (1875-?)
3. Harvey Gholson Sargent (1843-1913) -------------->
Confederate officer. Fought in the Civil War at Shiloh, Perryville, and Murfreesboro. Lost his left arm above the elbow at Murfreesboro. Mayor of Russellville. Married Rebecca Brigham Harris, a graduate of Ward Seminary (school for women) in Nashville and an author of "several stories about the Confederacy".
a. Bemjamin Harris Sargent 1869-1935
b. Lucie Temple Sargent 1873-1906
c. Harvey Owen Sargent 1875-1936
d. Bessie Brigham Sargent 1879-1928
e. Rebecca C. Sargent 1882-1921
4. Margaret Francis Sargent (1845-1852)
5. Samuel J. Sargent (1848-1911), ancestor of the Hamilton family
Had 7 children with Ella Hamilton. As he was white and she was African American, not able to be legally married in Alabama. According to descendants, they had a very loving relationship, though. In 1900, Samuel is listed as a boarder with his sister Susan McCulloch and her family.
6. Catherine (Kate) Sargent ----------------------------------->
married George O. Bowen. Ancestor of my genealogy correspondent Val Alley who provided these pictures.
7. Stephen A. Douglas Sargent (1855-1905)
married Mary Frances Lucas. 9 children including Robert Pelham Sargent, the banker. Married Annie Lee Smith, one son. Worked in the iron mines (an injury was reported in 1903 from a falling bank).
8. Dr. Oscar Sargent (1857-1937)
Married Annie Terry Drake. Moved to Jacksonville, Alabama. A doctor. Owner of a 100-year old gold watch given to him by his father-in-law A. J. Drake, who bought it in Philadelphia (1937 newspaper article).
The Sargent line goes back to North Carolina and before that, New England. Distant relatives include famed American painter John Singer Sargent, and governor of the Mississippi Territory Winthrop Sargent.
Mary Ann Gholson was the daughter of Francis Gholson of Virginia and Susanna Jameson of Kentucky. Mary Ann was born in 1818. If the 1850 census birthplace of Alabama is correct, her family were among the first settlers. But a story (preserved in a 1960 letter from Minnie Mack) says that Mary Ann and Oran rode on horseback from Kentucky to Russell's Valley, Alabama, just after their marriage in Kentucky (about 1837).
Oran and Mary Ann had the following children:
 |
| Thomas McCulloch and Susan Sargent McCulloch (right) and children, with Kate Sargent (standing). |
1. Ann Sargent (b. 1838). Not much is known about her.
Married Capt. Thomas Ellett McCulloch, a Confederate Officer. Later a Justice of the Peace in Russellville, known for performing marriages (sometimes two at once), and a regular newspaper correspondent into his later years.a. Margaret C. (1860-1901)
b. Estella (1861-1906)
c. Mary E. (1862-1913)
d. Julia (1868-1906)
e. John S. (1869-?)
f. Samuel Gholson (1871-1945)
g. Thomas O. (1875-?)
3. Harvey Gholson Sargent (1843-1913) -------------->
Confederate officer. Fought in the Civil War at Shiloh, Perryville, and Murfreesboro. Lost his left arm above the elbow at Murfreesboro. Mayor of Russellville. Married Rebecca Brigham Harris, a graduate of Ward Seminary (school for women) in Nashville and an author of "several stories about the Confederacy".
a. Bemjamin Harris Sargent 1869-1935
b. Lucie Temple Sargent 1873-1906
c. Harvey Owen Sargent 1875-1936
d. Bessie Brigham Sargent 1879-1928
e. Rebecca C. Sargent 1882-1921
4. Margaret Francis Sargent (1845-1852)
5. Samuel J. Sargent (1848-1911), ancestor of the Hamilton family
Had 7 children with Ella Hamilton. As he was white and she was African American, not able to be legally married in Alabama. According to descendants, they had a very loving relationship, though. In 1900, Samuel is listed as a boarder with his sister Susan McCulloch and her family.
6. Catherine (Kate) Sargent ----------------------------------->
married George O. Bowen. Ancestor of my genealogy correspondent Val Alley who provided these pictures.
7. Stephen A. Douglas Sargent (1855-1905)
married Mary Frances Lucas. 9 children including Robert Pelham Sargent, the banker. Married Annie Lee Smith, one son. Worked in the iron mines (an injury was reported in 1903 from a falling bank).
8. Dr. Oscar Sargent (1857-1937)
Married Annie Terry Drake. Moved to Jacksonville, Alabama. A doctor. Owner of a 100-year old gold watch given to him by his father-in-law A. J. Drake, who bought it in Philadelphia (1937 newspaper article).
 |
| From Bowen/Sargent Family Bible, unknown person, c. 1870's. |
Friday, February 21, 2020
Kerenhappuch Norman Turner, Revolutionary War Heroine
Most ancestors you find are ordinary people, farmers or laborers. Some bore arms or even gave their lives for their country. I am grateful for the sacrifices and hardships borne by those who helped to build a better life for their descendants. But often there is not much known about people beyond where they lived and died. Occasionally you find a criminal or a scoundrel, or a prominent townsperson. But every once in a while, you run across a really interesting and heroic person. I just discovered that the following woman is my 8th great aunt (via the families Coburn->McCulloch->Moss->Norman).
Kerenhappuch Norman was born about 1710 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Her magnificent name comes from one of the three daughters of Job (her sisters Kesiah and Jemima certainly got easier names). Her husband was a tobacco farmer named James Turner and they had 8 children.
In the Revolution, she served as a courier. As an older woman, she was able to travel freely on horseback without raising supsicion. Her son was wounded at the battle of Guilford Court House. Upon hearing about this, she rode on horseback from Maryland to North Carolina to care for him. She fashioned a dripping tub over his wound to keep his infection clean and cool, and also treated other injured soldiers. For her deeds, she is remembered with a statue (the first dedicated to a heroine of the Revolution) at the battlefield.
As impressive as her feats were in her 60's, she must have continued to maintain an active lifestyle. She died after a fall from a horse while hunting with her grandsons in 1804, when she was likely in her 90's.
Link: Address at dedication of her statue
 |
| A Heroine of '76 Mrs. Kerenhappuch Turner Mother of Elizabeth The Wife of Joseph Morehead of N.C. And Grandmother of Captain James and of John Morehead A Young N.C. Soldier Under Greene, Rode Horse-back from Her Maryland Home and At Guilford Courthouse Nursed To Health A Badly Wounded Son |
In the Revolution, she served as a courier. As an older woman, she was able to travel freely on horseback without raising supsicion. Her son was wounded at the battle of Guilford Court House. Upon hearing about this, she rode on horseback from Maryland to North Carolina to care for him. She fashioned a dripping tub over his wound to keep his infection clean and cool, and also treated other injured soldiers. For her deeds, she is remembered with a statue (the first dedicated to a heroine of the Revolution) at the battlefield.
As impressive as her feats were in her 60's, she must have continued to maintain an active lifestyle. She died after a fall from a horse while hunting with her grandsons in 1804, when she was likely in her 90's.
Link: Address at dedication of her statue
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