RootsTech 2023

The family history conference is coming soon on March 3-4. Along with FREE online classes, gathering in person has returned! The non-virtual conference will cost $98, transportation, and lodging costs if needed.

Click HERE to register – FREE online.

There is an ‘ON DEMAND” Library from past conferences. You can search by topic, speaker, language and more.

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Robert Hackett 1782 – 1832

Much can be learned from a will and an obituary. The following information is obtained from both documents for Mr. Hackett:

  • Robert was born in Richmond Virginia
  • As a child, he moved with his family to Abbeyville District, SC, near Cambridge
  • He moved to Anderson District, SC in January 1829
  • ‘Lucinda’ was his wife
  • He had at least 4 children: Harriet, Francy, Sophrona, and Albert
  • A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ebenezer
  • He was a land owner
  • He owned slaves. One of them named Sarah who had children
  • His friend was Garrison Linn

The beginning of Robert Hackett’s Will from South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980

1880 Map of Anderson County, SC (Partial)

Elizabeth PICKENS Denton

A recent find of a pension application in the Georgia Digital Archive shed a lot of light into the life story of this Tennessee Civil War widow. A sketch of her life, with sources, is given here. Any corrections or additions, with sources, are welcome and will be incorporated. A separate post on her husband will be coming soon.


Elizabeth PICKENS was born on Oct 2, 1828 in Blount County, Tennessee (1), to John PICKENS and Nancy (maiden name unknown). Her brother Joseph PICKENS and sister Letta PICKENS would have been 18 and 14, respectively (2). Letta appeared to have some special needs, and lived her life not being able to read or write in an otherwise literate family. (3,4,5) If there were other siblings, they are not known at this time. John and Nancy were 40 and 39 at the time of Elizabeth’s birth, and it appears that Elizabeth might have been the baby of the family, with no children following (2).

In early 1840, her father John applied to purchase 80 acres of land in nearby Bradley County, which was being partitioned for settlement in the wake of the tragic Cherokee Trail of Tears. His purchase was approved later that year (6), and it can be presumed that the family would have moved there sometime soon after, when Elizabeth was 12 or 13. This land was likely undeveloped, and turning it into a working farm would have been a very large effort for this family. Joseph and Letta both came along.

Tennessee Land Records, 1840

In 1850, John and Joseph are both listed as farmers on John’s farm, valued at $1200. (2) In 1850, the average value of land in Bradley county was $6 an acre (7), so their farm either would have been considerably improved, or perhaps they purchased additional land to their original 80 acres, or it simply sat on desirable land. Elizabeth was 21 at this time, and had undoubtedly spent her teenage years working hard at the family farm.

1850 Census, Bradley County, Tennessee

Neighbors to the Pickens family were the families of Greenbury DENTON and Leonard DENTON. Elizabeth would meet and be courted by a Camillus Cornelius DENTON (alt. Camillas, Camelias), perhaps while visiting with her neighbor Dentons, or perhaps Camillus had moved to Bradley county himself sometime after 1850. They were married on January 14, 1856 in Bradley County (1). Elizabeth was 27, Camillus was 34. Children came right away, and by the time of the 1860 census, Elizabeth and Camillus were living most probably on land originally belonging to Greenbury or Leonard. They were right next to Elizabeth’s parents, brother, and sister, and they were raising 2 young sons, 4 year-old John DENTON and 2 year-old Joseph DENTON, names following Elizabeth’s father and older brother. Also in the household is listed a 4 year-old girl named Esther, who is identified as mulatto. (3) Nothing more is known about Esther, and she was not listed with the family 10 years later.

1860 Census, Bradley County, Tennessee

A third son, Samuel DENTON, was born about 1861. Little Joseph would not live long, probably dying before he was older than 5. (4) Their last son Joseph Martin DENTON, born on New Year’s day in 1863 (8), was given the name of his recently departed brother.

The Civil War began in 1861, and portions of Bradley county would be army-occupied through almost the entire length of the war, by one side or another. The Confederacy passed a conscription law in April of 1862, requiring able-bodied men 18 to 35 to three years of service. Camillus was 40 at the time, and they were busy with 3 or 4 young boys, and the farm to run. Bradley county, and eastern Tennessee generally, was opposed to secession. It is unknown where the Denton’s sympathies laid. Unionists, such as there were, were under intense governmental pressure in the Confederacy, and joining the Confederate army did not necessarily equate to support for the Confederate cause, particularly in East Tennessee. The Confederate draft was soon expanded to include older men, and Camillus enlisted with the Tennessee Infantry in August of 1863. (1) Elizabeth was 34, had been married for 7 years, had already buried a son, and had 3 boys aged 6 years, 2 years, and 7 months. Now her husband was leaving for war, with Elizabeth to take care of the farm.

Elizabeth and Camillus wrote at least a few times. However, she was never to see her husband again. He was captured in Virginia in June of 1864 and taken to Point Lookout prison camp in Maryland. The last communication Elizabeth received was a brief letter from Camillus from the prison camp, shortly after his capture. She never heard any further definite news, so she must have waited and hoped for his safe return. (1) The war ended in April of 1865, but he did not return. Elizabeth had been left a widow, with 3 small boys and a farm to manage.

Last letter from CC to Elizabeth, June 29, 1864

By 1870, Elizabeth’s parents had also both died, but her brother Joseph was still living next-door, taking care of Letta. Elizabeth was listed on the census with her boys, 13 year-old John doing “Farm labour.” (4)

1870 Census, Bradley County, Tennessee

Over the next decade, her boys grew up, Samuel left home, and her brother Joseph passed away. In 1880, Elizabeth was 51 with sons John and Joseph at home, and caring for her older sister Letta. (5)

1880 Census, Bradley County, Tennessee

The 1880 US Census Agricultural schedule gives us a sense for her farm, which was likely a combination of the one she grew up on, and the one that she and Camillus had started after marriage. 130 acres of mixed farm and forestland, a horse, a donkey, and a milk cow. Over the prior year she had purchased 12 cows, sold 15, and slaughtered 2. She had made 150 pounds of butter. 3 pigs, 20 chickens (producing 150 dozen eggs per year). 30 acres of corn, 25 of wheat, 50 apple trees and 50 peach trees, bees enough to produce 100 pounds of honey a year (perhaps 4 hives), and harvested 25 bushels of cowpeas. She had harvested 30 cords of wood from her forest. Overall, hers was a fairly typical farm for it’s area and time, providing for her family and producing a variety of products for sale or barter. (9)

1880 Agricultural Schedule, Bradley County, Tennessee

The information in the 1890 census is lost to us, but we know Elizabeth must have sold the farm at some point. In 1891, Elizabeth lost the use of one of her hands in a fall. (1) Perhaps this would have prompted the sale of the farm.

In 1892, Joseph Martin was living in Chattanooga as a carpenter. Elizabeth and John would soon follow, and two years later we find them in the Chattanooga city directory as well, John working as a contractor and Elizabeth, now 64, living with John. The next year 1895, Joseph Martin moved in with Elizabeth, and John appears to have moved out. The Cotton States and International Exposition was held in Atlanta in 1895, and Joseph took his family to visit. Joseph continues to be listed in Chattanooga in 1896, but Elizabeth moved to Atlanta in October of that year. By 1897, Joseph has also left Chattanooga, moving to Atlanta. (11)

1895 City Directory, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Now in her 70s, Elizabeth was living with Joseph’s family in Atlanta in 1900. (12) In 1901, she filed for a widow’s pension for reasons of age and poverty. By this time, it appears her personal property had dwindled to basically nothing. Responding to a question on the pension application, she stated “I hav a Bed and wareing Close is all”

She was unable to work and was being supported by John and Joseph completely. (1) She appeared to share occupancy between the two.

1900 Census, Fulton County, Georgia

At the age of 79, Elizabeth passed away on November 24, 1907 in Atlanta, at her son Joseph’s house. She was taken back to Tennessee for funeral and burial. (13)

From the Atlanta Georgian, Nov. 25, 1907

Future Directions

There are still several questions unanswered, and perhaps approachable with a little more research:

  1. A more exact description of Elizabeth’s early childhood. Where was she born in Blount county? Did she grow up with other siblings nearer her age?
  2. More information about the family farm. It was probably located around Charleston, but based on John’s land application, and census data, it should be possible to figure out the exact location.
  3. How was Camillus related to Greenbury and Leonard? Did he move to Bradley county and buy the neighboring farm before he met Elizabeth?
  4. Who is Esther, and what became of her after 1860?
  5. Was the farm impacted by Confederate or Union troop occupation in the area?
  6. Elizabeth submitted several letters from Camillus in her pension application. Did she keep others and are they still held by a descendant?
  7. What became of Samuel?
  8. Bradley County court record indices indicate two court cases between Elizabeth and her sister Letta. Joining Letta’s side in the cases is an R.J. Cate. Perhaps this is about guardianship? This trail has not yet been explored.
  9. Where is Elizabeth buried? Likely in McMinn or Bradley county, but the cemetery is unknown.

Sources

While some clipped images are included within the sketch, Elizabeth’s FamilySearch page has been updated with most of the below sources for more complete information. Her FamilySearch ID is L788-V58.

  1. Widow’s pension
  2. 1850 Census
  3. 1860 Census
  4. 1870 Census
  5. 1880 Census
  6. Tennessee Land Records
  7. Farm real estate values in the United States by counties, 1850-1982/ Charles H. Barnard, John Jones.Barnard, Charles H.Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 1987.
  8. Death certificate of Joseph M DENTON
  9. 1880 Census Agricultural Schedule
  10. Personal narrative of Myrtle Fay DENTON
  11. Chattanooga City Directories, 1892 – 1897
  12. 1900 Census
  13. Atlanta Georgian Newspaper, Nov 25 and 26, 1907

“If Hurt, Notify. . .” A 16 Year Old’s Request

The first year Georgia mandated a driver’s license was 1937 but a driving exam was not required.  1937 is the same year Charles Hopkins created this I.D. card for himself.

Charles Hopkins ID Card

Charles Hopkins ID Card

The advent of the automobile in the first decade of the 20th Century created a lot of problems especially with accidents.  60% of motorized vehicle fatalities involved children in the street.  There were no traffic laws and cars were the newcomers onto the street full of animal powered vehicles.  ‘Serious debate was held in courtrooms and in editorials over whether the automobile was inherently evil. The state of Georgia’s Court of Appeals wrote: “Automobiles are to be classed with ferocious animals and … the law relating to the duty of owners of such animals is to be applied … . However, they are not to be classed with bad dogs, vicious bulls, evil disposed mules, and the like.”‘ from an article in the Detroit News.

 

When Alma Jackson Holder Died – A Letter and an Obituary

 

Painting by Eugene CarriereAlma Josephine JACKSON HOLDER was born in 1882, married very young and had four children before she died in 1906.  Her obituary is the basis for the letter below.

Dear Alma, 

You were so young when you left your babies. . .  married with four children when you were barely 24 years old. What did you look like?  I’ve never seen a picture of you.  I wonder what your life would have been like had you lived longer?  You had already done so much.  Maturity and responsibility were upon you but illness stepped in your path and changed your direction. Beloved by those who knew you both in and out of your family, I wish I had known more about you.  Thank you for living and birthing my grandmother even though she only had 6 short years with you . . . I think you would have been proud of her.

Sincerely, Your Great Grand Daughter

READ ON:

Alma’s obituary gives the details for the letter written above.  From the Henry County, GA Obituaries 1900-1907 we read:

“Mrs. Jim Holder died at her home near this place on the 30th ult* after a painful illness of several weeks’ duration.  She was the wife of our clever blacksmith Jim Holder who is left with several small children to mourn her loss.  The broken-hearted husband has the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in his sad bereavement.”

*’ult’ is a typing error for ‘July’

1900 U.S. Census of Henry County GA

1900 U.S. Census of Henry County GA

 

 

 

Two Rebellious Sisters

Celia and Dicey were sisters in the LANGSTON family.  The colonies of America were in rebellion against the British and the LANGSTON family was fully entrenched.  Dicey or Laodicea was the 5th child (born 1766) and Celia was the 7th child (born 1771).

At the ripe and daring age of 16, Dicey was a Revolutionary spy while her 11 year old sister Celia was watching. Continue reading

Melvin Gilreath – A Walking Encyclopedia

Greenness, trees,  and mountains surround the people who visit Amicalola Falls.  They gather to enjoy nature or be with friends and family.  Some might hike the start of the Appalachian Trail. It was at this place a group of near and distant kin gathered August 12th, 2017 for the 39th annual Gilreath Family Reunion.  Visiting and eating potluck lunch after a beautiful prayer of thanks have always been the mainstays of the reunion.  Pictures and records of ancestors grace the welcome table.  That’s a Gilreath reunion. Continue reading